Commodity markets rebound on growing risk appetite


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Global commodity markets rebounded this week from recent losses on the back of growing investor appetite for risk, dealers said.
"Commodity prices are firmer, having posted varying degrees of recovery from the previous week's widespread price declines," said Barclays analyst Sudakshina Unnikrishnan.
"However for many commodity markets we would view this as a temporary reprieve spurred by a combination of short covering, more positive macro data and the lack of a risk-off sentiment that characterised the previous week."
Markets shrugged off weaker-than-expected economic growth in the United States, which is a key consumer of many raw materials. US first-quarter economic growth came in at a modest 2.5 percent, a rebound from the previous quarter but slower than expected.
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold rallied sharply after striking a 2011 low point last week.
"An impressive rebound, and one that has been driven on the whole by massive physical demand from all around the world. The main buyers have as usual been the Indians and the Chinese," added David Govett, head of precious metals at commodities broker Marex Spectron.
"Obviously the majority of the small investment world believes that the global economy is far from fixed and gold has its place as a store of value."
The precious metal had slumped on April 16 to $1,321.95 -- a level which was last seen on January 2011 -- following weak Chinese growth data and reports that crisis-hit Cyprus was planning to sell some of its gold reserves.  Silver also won back ground after hitting a nadir of $22.07 an ounce last week -- which was last witnessed in October 2010.
By late Friday on the London Bullion Market, the price of gold rallied to $1,471.50 an ounce from $1,405.50 a week earlier.
Silver increased to $24.02 an ounce from $23.66.
On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum rose to $1,483 an ounce from $1,425.
Palladium advanced to $681 an ounce from $677.
OIL: Prices rebounded from the previous week's multi-month lows, boosted by positive sentiment, geopolitical tensions in Syria, hopes of an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank, and signs of strengthening US energy demand. "Oil prices are continuing to profit from a general brightening of sentiment on the financial markets," said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg.
The market jolted higher on Thursday after the United States said Syrian government forces had likely used chemical weapons, raising worries that Washington would punish Damascus militarily.
Traders took in their stride the Friday's first-quarter GDP data from top crude consumer the United States.
"Crude oil prices came off their highest levels of the day after the disappointing US growth numbers," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.
"However, they still finish the week significantly higher from where they started it on longer-term expectations that central banks will keep monetary policy sufficiently loose to see some form of recovery, after three successive weekly declines."
Brent had plunged last week to the lowest level since July 2011, while WTI hit a low point last seen in mid-December, as traders fretted over poor Chinese GDP numbers.
Prices have since recovered amid talk of an output cut from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
By Friday on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in June climbed to $102.35 per barrel compared with $99.73 a week earlier.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) or light sweet crude for June rallied to $92.18 a barrel from $87.97.
BASE METALS: Base or industrial metal prices also won back ground after recent heavy falls.
"The metals complex appears to be seeing some near-term support as selling pressure eases and investors take profits and unwind short positions. This may create some near-term strength," said Deutsche Bank analysts in a note to clients.
By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months jumped to $7,085 a tonne from $6,921 a week earlier.
Three-month aluminium rose to $1,901 a tonne from $1,885.
Three-month lead increased to $2,034 a tonne from $2,001.
Three-month tin advanced to $20,850 a tonne from $20,760.
Three-month nickel gained to $15,300 a tonne from $15,221.
Three-month zinc edged up to $1,900 a tonne from $1,877.
COCOA: Cocoa futures rallied to multi-month peaks, before ending on a mixed note.
"We expect this rally to be short-lived as weaker economic growth in the US and the continued economic malaise in the eurozone -- the world's largest consumer of cocoa -- weighs further on demand," said Capital Economics analyst Julian Jessop.
By Friday on LIFFE, London's futures exchange, cocoa for delivery in July nudged down to £1,552 a tonne from £1,554 a week earlier. On New York's NYBOT-ICE exchange, cocoa for July firmed to $2,370 a tonne from $2,342.
COFFEE: Robusta prices recoiled to their lowest level since January, hurt by the prospect of rising supplies in key producer Brazil.
"Attention has shifted back to the major harvest that is getting underway in Brazil," said Commerzbank analysts. The market was also dented as a tree fungus in Central America continued to hit crops. By Friday on NYBOT-ICE, Arabica for delivery in July slid to 136.80 US cents a pound from 141.35 cents a week earlier.
On LIFFE, Robusta for July dipped to $1,977 a tonne from $2,075.
SUGAR: Prices tumbled to a near three-year low of 17.25 US cents in New York on Thursday, hit once again by the prospect of a record harvest from Brazil.
"Sugar prices should main depressed over the next year due to significant excess supplies and another large harvest from Brazil," added Jessop at Capital Economics. By Friday on NYBOT-ICE, the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in July eased to 17.44 US cents a pound from 17.55 cents a week earlier.
On LIFFE, the price of a tonne of white sugar for August firmed to $501.40 from $500.50.
RUBBER: Prices increased this week as China's bird flu outbreak caused a jump in demand for rubber gloves, analysts said. The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 rose to 246.00 US cents a kilo from 234.40 cents the previous week.

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