20110818 1142 Global Market & Commodities Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks shaky, Swiss franc holds
SYDNEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Asian stocks eased on Thursday following a negative lead from U.S. technology shares, while the Swiss franc stayed buoyed after plans to curb the currency disappointed those looking for more drastic action.
"The mood has improved over the past week from sheer panic to a more garden-variety uncertainty about the future," said Bricklin Dwyer, economist at BNP Paribas.

Oil up on U.S. gasoline draw, equities weigh
NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Crude oil rebounded on Wednesday on a sharp decline in U.S. gasoline stocks, but persistent worries about economic growth curbed gains.
"The Brent market reestablished an upside leadership role today with the October contract making its debut as spot month," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Associates in Galena, Illinois.

Libya rebels battle for refineries in east and west
ZAWIYAH, Libya, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Rebels to the west and east of Libya's increasingly isolated capital fought forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi on Wednesday for control of oil facilities vital to winning the six-month-old civil war.
In Zawiyah, 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, they assaulted a coastal oil refinery to try to drive the last Gaddafi forces out and tighten their noose around the capital.

NYMEX-Natural gas ends mixed, front clings to slim gain
NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Front-month U.S. natural gas futures ended slightly higher on Wednesday for the first time in four sessions, underpinned by technical buying ahead of Thursday's weekly inventory report and a possible storm in the Caribbean despite fairly mild Northeast and Midwest forecasts.
"There was a little buying ahead of the (EIA storage) number, and a possible storm in the Caribbean may also have given prices a boost, but with the weather easing up in most population centers (except Texas), we could see more downside," a West Coast-based trader said.

Euro Coal-Prices stable with strong oil, power
LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices ended slightly weaker but recovered most of the day's earlier losses on Wednesday, in line with stronger oil and German power prices.
"The market appears more balanced because there has been more buying today after two weeks of very few trades but there has been only one buyer rather than a group of end-users in the market," another European utility said.

COMMODITIES-Oil ends off highs on economic worry; crops rally
NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Oil rose on Wednesday on better-than-expected demand for gasoline in the United States and most other commodities climbed too, although lingering economic worries limited gains on some markets.
"At this point, I see crude futures rallying to $90, but there's a risk that it will not hold long at that area, given the uncertainties in the economy," said Mark Waggoner, president at Excel Futures in Bend, Oregon.