GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares rise, investors see brighter US economy
TOKYO, March 19 (Reuters) - Asian shares edged higher and the dollar was firm against the yen on Monday with investors buoyed after the U.S. market hit an almost four-year high last week and with higher European stocks reflecting signs of growing stability in the euro zone.
"The economic fears that dominated last year have dissipated, and the backdrop of lower economic uncertainty should provide support for risk assets," Barclays Capital analysts said.
COMMODITIES-Oil up on supply woes; weak dollar helps other commods
NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped on Friday by the most in two weeks on supply worries, while soybeans hit a six-month high on crop worries and most other commodities rose on extended weakness in the dollar.
"Spare capacity is really very tight, and any natural disaster or problem in the Middle East could be a real problem," said Rob Montefusco, an oil trader at Sucden Financial, highlighting supply stoppages in Syria, Sudan and elsewhere.
OIL-Oil climbs on Iran tensions, weak dollar
NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Friday on support from the continuing tensions over Iran's disputed nuclear program and the potential for supply disruptions in the region along with the weaker dollar.
"The reasoning is that the Fed will not be as likely to pull back on stimulus or raise interest rates, so the dollar weakened and that pushed up oil, along with the uncertainty about Iran and the SPR," said Phil Flynn, analyst at PFGBest Research in Chicago.
Cameroon crude output on track for 100,000 bpd in 2012
YAOUNDE, March 18 (Reuters) - Cameroon is on target to double crude production to 100,000 barrels per day in 2012 after independent oil producer Perenco raised output from the Baf 3 oilfield to 50,000 bpd, an official at Cameroon's state-run hydrocarbons corporation said.
Oil production in the central African state, which peaked at 185,000 bpd in the mid-1980s, averaged around 65,000 bpd in 2011 due to maturing oil fields.
Gasoline pushes up US inflation, dents confidence
WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices rose the most in 10 months in February as the cost of gasoline spiked, but there was little sign that underlying inflation pressures were building up.
Surging gasoline prices put a small dent in consumer confidence early this month, other data showed on Friday. Still, Americans do not believe the sharp run-up in prices will last.
Saudi oil sales to US jump; Iran response or just business?
NEW YORK/LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is preparing to extend this year's unexpected jump in oil sales to the United States, adding to speculation about the response of the world's top oil exporter to sanctions against Iran and a rally in prices.
The kingdom's shipments to the United States have quietly risen 25 percent to the highest level since mid-2008, according to preliminary U.S. government data, a sizeable leap that appears at least partly related to the imminent completion of a major expansion at its joint-venture Motiva refinery in Texas.
NATURAL GAS-US natgas gains 2 pct in weekend short cover
NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures rose 2 percent on Friday, eking out a slight gain on the week, after tumbling early this week to their lowest mark in just over 10 years.
"The surplus still building in inventory versus both last year and the five-year average is going to get harder and harder to work off with only weeks until the start of spring. As such, for the short to medium-term, I doubt natural gas is going to reverse the downtrend it has been in for an extended period of time," said Energy Management Institute's Dominick Chirichella.
EURO COAL-Prices dip slightly despite oil rebound
LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices slipped by around 20 cents on Friday despite oil's rebound to above $124 a barrel.
“Further U.S. thermal coal production cuts are likely,” Morgan Stanley said in a research note on Friday.
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