Europe boosts gold and sealed oil
Gold broke his own record
Like last week, the attraction of gold can not be denied on the markets. Despite the aid plan of 750 billion euros earmarked by the European heads of state, investors worried and rushed to gold. The gold chains the record: the rising price ended at 1249.40 dollars, never seen on the London market which serves a global reference. On the London Bullion Market, an ounce of gold ended Friday at 1236.50 dollars at auction Friday night, cons 1202.50 dollars the previous Friday.
In its wake, the money is increased to a level it had attained over the past two years.The gray metal rose Thursday to 19.64 dollars, not far from $ 20 per ounce reached in March 2008, to finally finish the week at 19.64 dollars Friday.
Stimulated by the gold and silver, platinum group metals have rebounded after falling last week, victims of the strengthening dollar. On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, an ounce of platinum finished in 1721 dollars Friday. In turn, an ounce of palladium finished $ 536.
The dominant concern in oil markets
The continued turmoil in oil markets. The prices fell Friday to their lowest levels in three months to 70.83 dollars. On the Nymex, a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery finished at 71.61 dollars, down 2.79 dollars compared to Thursday. Prices have been a difficult week, leaving more than $ 5 in four sessions.They are well below the levels of early April, when the barrel was mounted to $ 87. In London, Brent crude ended Friday at 77.20 dollars, yielding 2.93% on the week.
As the equity markets, the euphoria that had raised prices Monday has not taken very long. The markets saw a dim announced the austerity policies that could lead to a slowdown in oil demand. Moreover, the continuing fall of the single European currency, which fell Friday to its lowest level since October 2008 (1.2359 dollars), weighs heavily on the markets.
In addition, crude oil reserves rose 1.9 million barrels during the week ended May 7, two times more than expected.
Week of mixed fortunes for base metals
On the London Metal Exchange (LME), the week has been more troubled.Investors fear the rigors of European policies that could dampen growth. In addition, China has caused confusion by announcing lower than expected macroeconomic data: the rate of growth of China's industrial output slowed in April, rising 17.8% year on year, after 18.1% March.
Copper, considered a barometer of the market ended the week slightly up to 6955 dollars per tonne. The aluminum stabilized this week at 2,093 dollars per tonne against 2,090 dollars the previous week.Zinc, nickel and lead have declined by 1.8% to 2.050 dollars per tonne, from 3% to 21,650 dollars per tonne and 2.4% in 1950 dollars.
Agricultural raw materials: sugar recovers
On Liffe in London, a tonne of white sugar for August delivery was worth 470 pounds on Friday against 435.80 pounds a ton for the same term last Friday. On the NYBOT U.S. a pound of raw sugar for July delivery was worth 14.88 cents against 13.64 cents a week earlier. But the euphoria is unlikely to last. The International Sugar Organisation (ISO) said Thursday he expected a surplus in 2010-2011 of nearly 2.5 million tonnes. Production is expected to grow in Brazil, India, Mexico.
For his part, cocoa was penalized by the strengthening dollar and profit taking. There is also an expected production increase in Brazil.Prices fell to 2,212 pounds per tonne in London and 2852 dollars in New York, respectively, the lowest since three weeks and a month. They ended the week at 2,232 pounds on Liffe and 2858 dollars on NYBOT.
Moreover, prices of wheat, corn and soybeans fell this week in Chicago, penalized by the rapid advance of planting in the United States. May 2, 68% corn, 60% of spring wheat and 15% of soybeans had been planted against respectively 40%, 47% and 8% on average over the past five years. In addition, the rising dollar makes U.S. production less attractive to export than those in Europe. The contract of corn for July delivery ended Friday at $ 3.63 and lost 2.4% on the week.The contract of soybeans in the same maturity fell to 9.53 dollars per bushel (-0.7%) while the wheat contract ended at U.S. $ 4.71 (-7.6%).
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