GLOBAL MARKET-Euro, stocks firm on easing global growth concerns
TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Asian shares and the euro gained on Thursday as global manufacturing data soothed fears about global economies deteriorating on the back of the ongoing euro zone debt crisis, while falling European debt yields also improved sentiment.
"PMIs in the U.S., China, Germany are more resilient than expected, encouraging heavy money to finally step in as the holy combination of PMIs above 50 and loose monetary policy means buying risk," said Sebastien Galy, strategist at Societe Generale.
COMMODITIES-CRB dips as grains surge, US oil weak
NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Surging grain futures were offset by a decline in U.S. oil and cocoa prices on Wednesday, keeping a lid on commodity markets for a third straight day.
"It's not a question of if they will, it's only a matter of when," Dennis Gartman, a veteran commodities investor, said, referring to the possibility of Beijing launching stimulus measures once its economic growth engine shows signs of fatigue.
Brent crude up as China, Iran outweigh US stockbuild
NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Brent crude rose on Wednesday as upbeat Chinese manufacturing data and concerns about the standoff between Iran and the West outweighed data showing a large build in U.S. oil inventories.
"We feel that an additional expansion of a couple more dollars is likely given the growing contrast between a supply re-build at Cushing and an attempt by European refiners to obtain alternative supply sources ahead of an Iranian embargo," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Associates in Galena, Illinois.
Europe meets rising gas demand during cold spell
LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A cold front blamed for more than 40 deaths in Ukraine alone tested Europe's gas supply on Wednesday, but industry officials said stored supply and imports from Russia and Norway were meeting the spike in demand for heating.
Western and northwest Europe are expected to see some reprieve from freezing temperatures by the weekend, putting the focus regarding possible gas shortfalls on parts of Eastern Europe.
Oil in equilibrium at $100 - Mercuria
DAVOS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Oil prices are comfortable around $100 a barrel and are unlikely to spike much higher for long even if Iranian oil supply is disrupted, the head of energy trading house Mercuria says.
Marco Dunand, chairman of Mercuria Energy Group, told Reuters the oil market had steadied despite turbulence in the Middle East and North Africa over the last year and tension between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear programme.
US natgas ends down 5 pct, pressured by weather, supplies
NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures ended lower on Wednesday for a third day as record-high supply levels and mild weather forecasts through mid-February continued to weigh on the market.
"This is a more persistent overhang and will need much more than some token announcements (by producers) to shut in a few molecules here and there to break the back of the glut," Gelber & Associates analyst Pax Saunders said in a report.
Euro Coal-Physical prices drop on ample offers
LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A rise in offers for coal deliveries clashed with a lack of bids on Wednesday, pulling down European physical coal prices, traders said.
"The offers available are still at too high a price to be taken, so many coal users are still burning stock before taking on new orders," one coal trader said.
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