GLOBAL MARKETS: Weak U.S. data hurts oil, dollar
NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Discouraging U.S. housing and factory data weighed on oil prices and the U.S. dollar on Thursday, while a lackluster day on Wall Street was overshadowed by the doubling of professional networking company LinkedIn's share price in its market debut.
"The markets right now are very concerned, they are pricing in risk that somehow the second-half rebound is under threat," said Anthony Chan, chief economist at J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Management in New York.
OIL: Crude edges higher ahead of contract's expiry
TOKYO, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose on Friday ahead of the lead contract's expiry, paring a near 2 percent decline the previous day when weak U.S. economic data stoked worries about demand.
U.S. data showed weekly jobless benefit filings fell last week, yet claims remained above 400,000 for the sixth straight week, while sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell in April.
NATURAL GAS: Natural gas ends below chart support, EIAs bearish
NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Front-month U.S. natural gas futures ended sharply lower on Thursday, with the front month finishing below key support after a government report showed a weekly inventory build slightly above market expectations.
"The number (EIA build) was close to expectations, but it was the first build above 90 bcf, and next week, we could see a 100-bcf injection, which would not be bullish," a Houston-based analyst said.
EUROCOAL: July ARA bids rise by $2/T to nearly $122
LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Prompt European coal prices rose by around $2.00 a tonne on Wednesday in line with oil's gains.
"Oil firmed a little and that's given the market some direction but there are still few bids and offers and few trades to show where current value lies," one trader said.
COMMODITIES: Ends down after one-day rally; oil off 1.7 pct
NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Commodities fell back on Thursday, a day after posting the biggest gains since March, as economic worries weighed on oil prices and profit-taking snapped a sharp rally in grains.
"We have to suspect that yesterday's move was nothing more than a gigantic technical 'relief rally' in what is still a down market in most commodities," said Edward Meir, energy and metals analyst at MF Global in New York.
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