20120824 1119 Global Markets & Commodities Related.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares retreat on dim outlook for growth, Fed stimulus
TOKYO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Asian shares retreated from a two-week high on Friday on scaled back expectations of more stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and growth concerns after manufacturing surveys from the euro zone and China depicted a bleak outlook.
"Expectations for fresh stimulus action have been largely reflected in shares, so shares will continue to take a breather next week," said Kim Young-joon, an analyst at SK Securities.

OIL-Brent crude pares gain as stimulus hopes ease
NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Brent crude pared gains on Thursday as revived hopes for more stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve faded and doubts about Europe's ability to address its debt crisis crept back in focus.
"The market was looking exhausted at these higher levels after rallying for almost two months," said Michael Korn, energy broker at Skokie Energy in Princeton, New Jersey.

NATURAL GAS-US natgas futures trim loss, end down on bearish EIA
NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures lost ground on Thursday, pressured by a bearish government report on inventories, but concerns about a storm in the Caribbean prompted some shorts to cover and helped lift prices from morning lows.
"The fact that Tropical Storm Isaac is still aimed at Florida is a mixed bag of concern. There are still limits to going short against tropical activity going into a weekend," Gelber & Associates analyst Patrick Saunders said, noting shorts likely opted to take profits at the lows because of the storm.

EURO COAL-prices drop on improving Colombian exports
LONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Physical prompt coal prices continued this week's downward trend on Thursday as prospects for rising Colombian exports and weak European demand pulled down the market, traders said.
"The return of Colombian exports is colliding with ongoing weakness in European demand, so prices are going down every day as long as Colombian exports are going up," one coal trader said. "But this trend will stop soon, once Colombian exports are back to normal at some point next week."