GLOBAL MARKETS: Asian shares, dollar rise as new quarter begins
HONG KONG, April 1 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Friday, looking to extend three straight quarters of gains, while the dollar strengthened against most major currencies after hawkish comments from a senior U.S. Federal Reserve official.
Oil also kicked off the new quarter in positive fashion with U.S. prices climbing after closing at their highest in 2-1/2 years on Thursday against the backdrop of continued fighting in Libya and unrest in the Middle East.
Oil : Oil jumps to 2-1/2-yr highs, posts big Q1 gains
NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped to their highest close in 2-1/2 years on Thursday in thin end-of-quarter trading that left Brent near a record quarterly rise of more than $22 as Libya's conflict and Middle East unrest kept supply threats in focus and U.S. economic data added lift.
"(E)nd of quarter positioning and today's jobless figures again surprised on the favorable side with further economic optimism likely to be on display tomorrow morning," Jim Ritterbusch, president at Ritterbusch & Associates said in a note.
NATURAL GAS: Natural gas ends up slightly despite bearish EIAs
NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures ended slightly higher on Thursday in a seesaw session, as chilly Northeast and Midwest weather and some technical buying after an early sell-off offset bearish weekly inventory data and concerns about high supplies.
"I think nuke concerns inspired some of the buying, and people are looking for a record-challenging withdrawal next week," Gelber & Associates analyst Pax Saunders said, noting news the Nuclear Regulatory Commission planned an intensive safety review of some U.S. nuclear plants.
EURO COAL: Rebounds $2 on strong oil, gas
LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Prompt European physical coal prices rebounded by around $2.00 on Thursday in line with stronger oil and gas prices.
"You have to wonder if anybody wants to actually trade or are they putting numbers out there which they know aren't going to be hit," one trader said.
COMMODITIES: Energy, silver and cotton outperform in Q1
NEW YORK/LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose more than 2 percent on Thursday, to the highest settlement in 2-1/2 years, and the global economic recovery also sent cotton, silver and gasoline soaring in the first three months of 2011.
"Silver's seen a perfect storm with a combination of a positive economic outlook to boost its industrial demand, together with inflation risks, geopolitical unrest and natural disasters. Little wonder it jumped so much," said a Singapore-based bullion trader.
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