20120621 1056 Global Market & Commodities Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares struggle, commodities down as Fed disappoints
SINGAPORE, June 21 (Reuters) - Asian stocks struggled and commodities fell broadly after the Federal Reserve ramped up monetary stimulus by expanding "Operation Twist", but disappointed some investors who had been hoping for more aggressive measures.
"The positive impact of a weaker yen should outweigh the disappointment about the U.S.'s economic outlook and the lack of more powerful stimulus," said Masayuki Doshida, senior market analyst at Rakuten Securities. "But there won't be a sustained rally on the back of this."

COMMODITIES-Markets slump as Fed disappoints; oil at 18-mth low
NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - Commodities slumped , a day after the sharpest rally in four months, as investors expressed their disappointment with the U.S. Federal Reserve for not being as aggressive as they had hoped in stimulating the economy.
"Unequivocally, the markets are disappointed with the Fed's action," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive at Sarhan Capital, a New York-based financial advisory that also comments on commodity markets.

Oil-Oil hits 18-month low as stockpiles rise, Fed disappoints
NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - World oil prices tumbled more than 3 percent to their lowest in a year and a half, as data showed U.S. crude inventories unexpectedly swelled and investors were disappointed at measures the Federal Reserve announced to aid the economy.
"Some market participants were expecting QE3 (a third round of quantitative easing), and will be disappointed yet again," said Jason Schenker at Prestige Economics in Austin, Texas "The stimulus announced today is very modest."

Japan, China to import Iran oil after EU ban
TOKYO, June 20 (Reuters) - At least two of Asia's four top buyers of Iranian crude will keep imports flowing, though at overall reduced rates, as they find ways around an EU ban on insuring tankers carrying the Islamic country's oil.
Asia needs oil to feed growing demand and top consumers are reluctant to entirely halt imports from Iran and depend entirely on top exporter Saudi Arabia, especially given that output from other alternative suppliers such as Libya and Iraq has not stabilized.

NATURAL GAS-US natgas futures end lower, reverse from 4-week high
NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures reversed course and ended lower after climbing to a four-week high, as milder forecasts for next week offset early-session support from the strong heat that has kicked up air conditioning demand.
"We had the run up on the heat, but it's going to be short lived. I think the market is consolidating recent gains, trading in the $2.40 to $2.75 range," said George Ellis, director at BMO Capital Markets in New York.

EURO COAL-Prices rise with gas, up 75 cents a tonne
LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices rose by around 75 U.S. cents to $1.00 a tonne, in line with gas, but remained close to the two-year lows reached earlier this month.
Brent crude fell, pinned close to 17-month lows, as worries over Spain's borrowing costs and gloomy prospects for global demand growth weighed on prices [O/R].