GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares pause after US jobs, eyes monetary policy
TOKYO, March 12 (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Monday as investors paused to assess the effect of strong U.S. jobs data, which scaled back expectations for more easing ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting, while concerns over China's slowdown also weighed on sentiment.
"Although we do not expect any significant changes in policy, a reiteration of dovish rhetoric may help maintain the underlying support for risky assets ... An improving US labour market has reduced the likelihood of QE3 further. As a result, other low-yielding currencies such as the JPY and CHF will remain under pressure against the USD," they said.
COMMODITIES-Oil, gold end up on US jobs data; defy dollar rally
NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - Oil ended up for a third straight day on Friday despite a strong dollar as positive U.S. jobs data inspired hopes for more energy demand, and soybeans hit 5-1/2 month highs on lower-than-expected crop forecasts before easing on profit-taking.
"The (U.S.) economy, while nowhere near fully healed, has enough momentum to move forward on its own and seems to be gaining strength," said Megan Ellis, economist at John Hancock Financial Services in Boston.
Rising gasoline prices point to mid-year slowdown
--John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own--
LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Analysts at leading banks have been out in force to reassure investors the U.S. economy is in better shape to weather rising gasoline prices this year than in the first half of 2011 or 2008, when increases at the pump helped push the economy into a slowdown.
Many commentators have pointed to the continuing robustness of data on employment and confidence to argue the U.S. economy will shrug off rising fuel prices.
OIL-Oil up on U.S. jobs data, posts weekly gain
NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday for a third straight day and also posted weekly gains as data showing rising U.S. employment countered pressure from a stronger dollar and fading euphoria from Greece's debt swap deal.
"Today's U.S. employment report for February was positive across the board and confirms that improvements in the U.S. job market are real," said Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics LLC in Austin, Texas.
NATURAL GAS-Short covering lifts US natgas from near 10-yr low
NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures ended slightly higher on Friday, buoyed by technical buying after prices failed for a second day to sink to a 10-year low despite mild weather forecasts and record high supplies.
"The bears may be getting a bit uneasy and a modest round of short covering has occurred since yesterday. But by no means does it suggest that the (bearish) trend has changed," Energy Management Institute's Dominick Chirichella said in a report, noting gas has been in a technical downtrend for nearly a year.
Euro Coal-Prices dip 25c, Apr Newc trades at $105/T
LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices fell slightly by around 25 cents a tonne on Friday as buyers pulled back and in line with weaker oil values.
"The situation is broadly unchanged, much as it has been for the past couple of weeks, some buying but today the offers were unrealistically high," one European trader said.
Japan diplomat says to keep buying Iran oil
DUBAI, March 11 (Reuters) - Japan will continue to import as much Iranian crude oil as it needs, the Japanese ambassador to Tehran was quoted by Iranian media on Sunday as saying.
Japan has been put under pressure to reduce its use of Iranian crude by the United States which has imposed tough sanctions against Iran's energy and banking sectors to force Tehran to curb its nuclear activities.
Saudi oil supply at 9.4mbpd in Feb- Industry source
DUBAI, March 10 (Reuters) - Top oil producer Saudi Arabia supplied 9.4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude to the market in February steady from January, an industry source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday.
"Production from the kingdom was in the range of 9.85 million bpd also steady from the previous month," the industry source added.
China Feb implied oil demand rebounds to record high
BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) - China's implied oil demand in February rebounded to a record high rate last seen in December after a dip in January, official data showed on Saturday, as refineries continued with fairly hefty runs while net imports of oil products surged from a month earlier.
Implied demand, the combination of crude oil throughput and net fuel imports, rose about 2 percent from a year earlier to 9.71 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, the same as in December, according to Reuters calculations based on preliminary government data.
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