20120119 1146 Global Market & Commodities Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares hit 2-month highs on IMF hopes
TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose to a two-month high and the euro firmed on Thursday after news that the International Monetary Fund was seeking to boost its resources to tackle the euro zone debt  crisis helped to ease worries about Europe's funding difficulties.

China Developers Ease Home Sales (Bloomberg)
China’s biggest developers slowed home sales toward the end of 2011, bracing for the worst property market in three years as the government vows to keep real-estate curbs. Contract sales, or sales booked before apartments are completed, dropped 30 percent last month at China Vanke Co. (000002), as the country’s biggest developer by market value offered fewer homes from November. Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd. (3333), the second-biggest Chinese developer by revenue, said sales in November and December were the lowest for the year. Developers are looking for ways to preserve record sales last year as the impact of purchase limits and tighter mortgage requirements imposed by the government spreads. China’s home transactions will fall 10 percent this year, according to Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, while UBS AG says the curbs may boost supply to the highest in a decade.

COMMODITIES-Gold, copper end up on possible IMF help
NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Many commodities fell or posted only modest gains on Wednesday, as concerns about Europe's financial woes ahead of Greek debt-restructuring talks overshadowed data indicating U.S. economic strength.
"We could be right back to asset-allocation type selling in a fairly short order," said Frank McGhee, head precious metals trader at Integrated Brokerage Services LLC.

Oil falls as weak demand outlook trumps IMF hopes
NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Brent crude oil futures dropped back on Wednesday as a weak demand outlook overshadowed hopes the International Monetary Fund would be able to raise more money to help resolve Europe's debt crisis.
"NYMEX crude pulled back on that news, but U.S. crude futures have also fallen as it is testing support around $100, after rising on concerns about disruption of supply from Iran," said Chris Dillman, analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

Warm winter cuts oil demand 300,000-400,000 bpd
LONDON/NEW YORK Jan 18 (Reuters) - Frost has not lasted long on the ground this winter, and heating oil demand in the United States and Europe has also been melting away.              
The unseasonably warm winter in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere has cut at least 300,000 barrels per day from global oil consumption since November, according to the latest analyst estimates, likely stopping oil prices of more than $100 a barrel from climbing even higher.  

NYMEX-Natural gas ends down slightly in 7th straight loss
NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures took a modest breather after Tuesday's steep slide but still ended down slightly on Wednesday for a seventh day, pressured by mild extended weather forecasts and record high supplies despite a brief cold snap this week.
"The upcoming inventory withdrawals are likely to continue to underperform for the foreseeable future ... unless of course real winter weather shows up and stays around for an extended period of time," Energy Management Institute's Dominick Chirichella said in a report.

Euro Coal-Prices make modest gains
LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices rose by up to 75 cents a tonne on Wednesday, helped by light buying interest, with South African cargoes seen supported for now.  
"We've seen some interest on both the physical and paper side, which has kept things firm and it's up between 50 and 75 cents today," one trader said, referring to swaps trading.