Stocks fall as Greek bailout delay dampens mood
TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Asian shares and the euro fell as another delay in cementing a crucial bailout for stricken Greece underscored how far Europe is from resolving a debt crisis that threatens the stability of the financial system.
"It's not clear whether Athens will be able to secure funds needed to redeem bonds on March 20," said Sumino Kamei, senior analyst at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.
FOREX-Euro hits 3-week low vs dlr on bailout delay worries
TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The euro slid to a three-week low versus the dollar on Thursday as officials in Europe considered delaying a bailout package for Greece even as the indebted country met demands set by international lenders.
Several EU sources said on Wednesday the euro zone is examining ways of holding back parts or even all of the bailout programme until after elections expected in Greece in April while still ensuring it avoids a disorderly default.
W.Australia grains harvest hits record 15 mln/t-minister
SYDNEY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Western Australia state's 2011-2012 grains harvest has exceeded 15 million tonnes for the first time, with more than 80 percent of the tonnage earmarked for export, the state government said on Thursday.
The bumper crop was recorded despite an abnormally wet and protracted harvest in recent months, Terry Redman, the state's minister for agriculture said in a statement.
US ethanol production rises, stocks at record high
Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. ethanol makers stepped up production of the biofuel last week after output had fallen to a 2-1/2 month low and stocks swelled to a fresh record high, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday.
Ethanol production averaged 928,000 barrels a day in the week ended Feb. 10, up 5,000 barrels per day from the previous week, a 0.5 percent increase, EIA data showed.
Big exports but cattle herd expansion unclear-USDA
WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Recent drought and forecasts for limited rainfall could constrain the size of the U.S. cattle herd despite high retail beef prices and forecasts for near-record exports, the Agriculture Department said on Wednesday.
Record-high retail beef prices "are not sufficient to provide the long-term margins and profits the wholesale and cattle feeding sectors must have in order to sustain an expansion," USDA economists said in a monthly outlook report.
Ukraine says no plans to limit grain exports
KIEV, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine, which risks losing a large part of its winter grains due to poor weather conditions, has no immediate plans to curb exports of grain, Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk said on Wednesday, commenting on market concerns.
"There are no plans to limit grain exports," he told reporters.
Uganda's 2012 sugar production seen up 26 pct
KAMPALA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Uganda's 2012 raw sugar production is forecast to rise 26 percent, boosted by expected good weather and higher cane supplies from outgrowers, an industry official said on Wednesday.
Wilberforce Mubiru, secretariat manager at Uganda Sugar Cane Technologists Association (USCTA), told Reuters the east African country would produce about 327,075 tonnes of sugar, up from last year's 259,413 tonnes.
U.S. grains edge up on mixed signs
SYDNEY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - U.S. grains futures rose slightly in early Asian trade as soy reached a near four-month high in a previous session on higher U.S. export demand and dry weather concerns in South America. Wheat and corn were holding their ground after dipping on technical selling and expectations of rising U.S. corn stocks in 2012/13.
A Chinese trade delegation signed agreements with U.S. grain companies on Wednesday to buy 8.62 million tonnes of soybeans from the United States and will ink more deals on Thursday for a record-setting purchase topping 12 million tonnes.
Brent slips on Greece woes; stays above $118 on supply fears
SINGAPORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Brent crude prices slipped on fears of a delay in a second bailout package for debt-ridden Greece, although worries of supply disruption from Iran and U.S. data showing an unexpected drop in inventories limited the drop.
"The volatility in risk assets, concerns of supply in the Middle East, and drawdown of U.S. crude inventories are all putting a floor on oil prices," Ben Le Brun, market analyst at OptionsXpress.
LME copper hits 3-week low, Greece delay sours mood
SHANGHAI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - London copper hit a three-week low, having lost ground for the last four sessions, after signs of a delay to a bailout for Greece soured sentiment and put the euro on the defensive against the dollar.
"Markets are very sensitive at the minute and any more weak numbers over the next couple of days in the very near term could add to downside pressure on metals," he said.
METALS-LME copper hits 3-week low, Greece delay sours mood
SHANGHAI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - London copper hit a three-week low on Thursday, having lost ground for the last four sessions, after signs of a delay to a bailout for Greece soured sentiment and put the euro on the defensive against the dollar.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange slipped 1.4 percent to $8,256.25 a tonne by 0332 GMT, lowest since Jan. 24.
PRECIOUS-Gold edges down on Greece aid delay concerns
SINGAPORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Gold edged lower on Thursday, tracking a weaker euro, as hopes of solving Greece's crisis dimmed, with the euro zone pondering a delay of the bailout for the debt-ridden nation.
Spot gold rallied 1 percent at one point on Wednesday on expectations of a solution for the Greek crisis, but sentiment soured after news that euro zone finance officials were considering delaying parts, or even all, of a second bailout program for Greece.
Gold edges down on Greece aid delay concerns
SINGAPORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Gold edged lower , tracking a weaker euro, as hopes of solving Greece's crisis dimmed, with the euro zone pondering a delay of the bailout for the debt-ridden nation.
"Things will get revolved, but it is going to be a slow process and it will continue to be frustrating for investors," said Jeremy Friesen, commodity strategist at Societe Generale in Hong Kong.
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