GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, euro firm as growth hopes warm risk appetite
TOKYO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Asian stocks and the euro firmed on Wednesday, as investor risk appetite returned after upbeat U.S. and European economic data boosted global shares and commodities and hopes for improved growth outlook grew despite worries over the euro zone debt crisis.
"While we are structurally underweight risk, we suggest adopting a more neutral stance in the first two weeks of 2012," analysts at Barclays Capital said in a research note.
COMMODITIES-Strong start to 2012 but Europe remains a worry
NEW YORK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Commodities began 2012 with a bang as a key market benchmark posted its largest gain in three months on Tuesday, but the unresolved European crisis and fears of last year's volatility continuing made analysts wonder if it was too early to rejoice.
"Funds are now investing again, taking a bit more risk after a poor year" in 2011, said Peter Fertig, analyst at Europe's Quantitative Commodity Research.
Oil jumps 4 percent on Iran anxiety; U.S., China data
NEW YORK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices surged on Tuesday, with U.S. crude hitting the highest settlement since May, fueled by strong economic data from the United States and China and mounting concern about supply disruption from Iran.
"The supportive economic data and the geopolitical concerns are furthering the crude oil rally," said John Kilduff, partner at hedge fund Again Capital LLC in New York.
Brazil national oil output nudges up to new high
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Brazil's steadily-rising oil production hit yet another record in November, reaching an average of 2.19 million barrels per day, the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) said on Tuesday, a 4.8 percent increase from November of 2010.
The fields which saw output rise most were those operated by state-controlled oil company Petrobras PETR4.SA, which alone accounted for 90 percent of crude oil production in that month.
Mexico's main oil export ports stay shut due to weather
MEXICO CITY, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Mexico's three biggest oil exporting ports remained closed on Tuesday due to bad weather off the Gulf of Mexico, the transport ministry said.
The Dos Bocas and Coatzacoalcos terminals were closed on Monday morning and the largest Gulf port of Cayo Arcas shut later in the afternoon, the ministry said in a statement.
Natural gas ekes out gain, remains under $3/mmBtu
NEW YORK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures managed to eke out a small gain on Tuesday, but settled under $3 per million British thermal units for a second straight session.
"The first half of the winter has been mild and thus bearish. The second half of the winter is obviously still an unknown," said Energy Management Institute's Dominick Chirichella.
Euro Coal-Prices dip by $1/T but trade subdued
LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Physical prompt coal markets began 2012 subdued, with no fresh trades reported, while prices drifted $1.00 a tonne lower with European power prices and EU carbon.
"Everybody's back at their desks now but nobody wants to do anything. There are bids and offers but still no real appetite to trade," one European trader said.
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