20120314 1140 Global Market & Commodities Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Increased risk appetite lifts shares after data, Fed
TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Wednesday as upbeat U.S. economic data boosted investors' risk appetite, while reduced expectations for further monetary easing from the Federal Reserve underpinned the dollar.
"The U.S. economic picture has clearly brightened, monetary easing efforts have increased liquidity and boosted equities worldwide and despite the fact that Japanese investors are heading into book-closing period, demand remains strong," said Hiroichi Nishi, equity general manager at SMBC Nikko Securities.

COMMODITIES-Up on economic data, Fed resolve for low rates
NEW YORK, March 13 (Reuters) - Oil hit 11-month highs and most commodities ended up on Tuesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve's stance in keeping interest rates low through 2014 appeased markets already boosted by encouraging U.S. and European economic news.
"The Fed decision is supportive for the oil market," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital, a commodities trader in New
York.  

OIL-Oil ends at 11-month peak on economic data, Fed
NEW YORK, March 13 (Reuters) - Brent crude prices settled at an 11-month high on Tuesday as improving German economic sentiment, rising U.S. retail sales and the U.S. central bank's reiteration that it plans to keep interest rates low fuelled optimism about growth.
"The Fed decision is supportive for the oil market," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC.
 
NATURAL GAS-US natural gas up 1 pct after touching 10-yr low
March 13 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures rose 1 percent on Tuesday as late short-covering pulled prices off a 10-year low, though a bearish outlook still weighs on sentiment.
"You cannot rule out a $1 price handle. We have no weather demand to speak of in the next two weeks in the major consuming regions," said Gene McGillian, analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford Connecticut.

EURO COAL-Prices ease along with gas
LONDON, March 13 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices dropped slightly on Tuesday in line with weaker gas, with few fresh trades seen.
"Coal this week has been looking at anything but its own weak fundamentals, sometimes following oil and gas or the warmer weather," one utility source said.