Japan Crisis: Raw Materials Tumble U.S. Commodities Day Ahead

On Japan Crisis after disaster, raw Materials tumble U.S. commodities day ahead.

TOP STORY:

Cotton Prices May Prompt India Farmers to Plant Record Crop (2)

Cotton output in India, the world?s second-largest producer, may rise to a record for a second straight year as a rally in prices spurs farmers to boost planting, traders said.

Commodities Tumble, Led By Oil, as Japan Quake Threatens Demand

Commodities fell for a fourth day, led by a 3.3 percent slide in crude oil, as Japan?s biggest earthquake and nuclear crisis spurred concern that demand for raw materials, including some energy products, will shrink.

COMMODITY EXCLUSIVES:

Japan LNG Imports May Jump Fivefold After Quake: Energy Markets

Japan?s purchases of spot liquefied natural gas may jump fivefold after the country?s biggest recorded earthquake, should history repeat itself.

Turkey ?Doesn?t Have Luxury? to Abandon Nuclear Power Plans (1)

Turkey can?t afford to abandon its nuclear energy plans after Japan?s nuclear disaster because it needs the electricity to meet demand from its growing economy, Energy Ministry Undersecretary Metin Kilci said.

INDUSTRIAL METALS:

Copper Slides to Three-Month Low Amid Japan Radiation Concern

Copper fell to a three-month low in London as equities and commodities plunged amid concern that a Japanese nuclear power plant damaged by last week?s earthquake may leak radiation.

Copper, Aluminum Trading in China to Gain on Warehouse Move (1)

Copper and aluminum futures trading in China, the world?s largest consumer, may increase after bonded warehouses are included for the first time as delivery points for the Shanghai Futures Exchange.

MINING:

Rio CEO Albanese Says Talks Continue With Guinea on Simandou

Rio Tinto Group Chief Executive Officer Tom Albanese said the company is continuing talks with Guinea on the Simandou project. The company commented in a statement today.

Mechel Said to Consider Raspadskaya Stake as Evraz Studies Sale

OAO Mechel, Russia?s largest miner of steelmaking coal, is considering acquiring shares in OAO Raspadskaya as soaring demand for the commodity spurs expansion, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

Rough Diamond Prices May Gain 25% on ?Voracious? China, Gem Says

Rough diamond prices may surge more than 25 percent this year driven by ?almost insatiable? demand from China, India and the U.S., Gem Diamonds Ltd. said.

AngloGold Maintains Output Guidance as Sunrise Production Hurt

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. said it?s maintaining its full-year production guidance of 4.55 million ounces to 4.75 million ounces even as heavy rains at its Sunrise Dam gold mine in Western Australia reduce output.

EMED Gets Andalucia?s Backing for Rio Tinto Mine Rights Transfer

EMED Mining Public Ltd. said Spanish authorities in Andalucia supported the transfer of Rio Tinto mineral rights to its EMED Tartessus unit.

PRECIOUS METALS:

Gold Declines as Investors Sell to Cover Drop in Other Assets

Gold declined in London as some investors sold the metal to raise cash as other assets including commodities and equities dropped. Silver, platinum and palladium all slid.

Global X Funds Starts ?Pure Play? Gold Exchange-Traded Fund

Global X Funds, an exchange-traded fund company with $1.5 billion under management, started a gold ETF that provides a way to invest in companies that get almost all their revenue from mining the metal.

AGRICULTURE:

Ivory Coast Clashes Move Southward in Abidjan, Residents Say (1)

Clashes in Ivory Coast between an armed group backing President-elect Alassane Ouattara and forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo spread southward in the commercial capital, Abidjan, residents said.

Cocoa Declines on Concerns Over Demand; Sugar Prices Slump

Cocoa fell in London to the lowest price in more than a month after Japan?s earthquake and nuclear crisis spurred concerns demand for commodities may fall, overshadowing the extension of Ivory Coast?s export ban. Sugar also slumped.

South African Corn Advances as Rand Weakens Against the Dollar

Corn prices rose in South Africa, the largest producer of the grain on the continent, as the rand weakened against the dollar, making imports more expensive for local millers.

Cameroon Cocoa Exports Fell 6.8% in Week to March 14, Port Says

Cocoa exports from Cameroon?s main port of Douala fell 6.8 percent during the week to March 14, according to statistics from the harbor.

Corn, Wheat, Soy Decline on Signs of Reduced Demand From Japan

Wheat, corn and soybeans fell in Chicago on signs demand from Japan will drop after last week?s earthquake left thousands dead and explosions at a nuclear power plant spurred concern about radiation.

Cotton Prices May Prompt India Farmers to Plant Record Crop (2)

Cotton output in India, the world?s second-largest producer, may rise to a record for a second straight year as a rally in prices spurs farmers to boost planting, traders said.

Rice May Extend Decline, Limiting Food Costs, UN?s Calpe Says

Rice, the staple for half the world, will probably drop on increased supplies, trailing other grains and curbing record food costs, the United Nations said.

SHIPPING:

Shipping Poised to Drop After Two-Week Rally: Freight Markets

The rebound that more than doubled commodity freight costs in two weeks is peaking as idled ships haul anchor and compete for cargoes of iron ore and coal.

Capesize Second-Quarter Forwards Slump 5.8% in London Trading

Forward freight agreements for second-quarter capesize rates slumped 5.8 percent to $14,300 a day by 8:15 a.m. in London trading, according to data from Clarkson Securities Ltd.

ECONOMIES:

Swaps Fall Most in Two Years as Lending Drops 25%: China Credit

The cost of locking in China?s money-market rates is sliding at the fastest pace in two years on speculation slowing credit growth will ease the need for more monetary tightening this month to combat inflation.

Japan Disaster May Delay China Rate Increase, Mizuho, BofA Say

Japan?s earthquake and tsunami may delay interest rate increases in China as the disasters cloud the global economic outlook, Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. and Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said.

China Passes Japan as Second-Biggest Stock Market: Chart of Day

China surpassed Japan as the world?s second-biggest equities market by value, as the Japanese earthquake spurs concern rebuilding efforts will curb manufacturing and add to the world?s largest public debt.

BOJ Fails to Contain Investor Panic as Nuclear Risk Rises (3)

The Bank of Japan?s step to provide short-term liquidity and expand an asset-purchase program failed to contain investor panic today as the risk of nuclear radiation leaks north of Tokyo escalated.

World Economy Unlikely to Be Hurt by Japan Quake: Chart of Day

The impact of Japan?s record earthquake on global growth may be limited as its economy?s share of world gross domestic product is in decline.

Paris Home Prices Surge as City Shrugs off Financial Crisis

Paris property broker Kerstin Bachmann warned clients two years ago that the global financial crisis would trigger a slump in home prices. Last year, they rose at the fastest pace since at least 1991.

German ZEW Investor Confidence Unexpectedly Dropped in March (2)

German investor confidence unexpectedly fell for the first time in five months in March after the European Central Bank said it may raise interest rates and Japan?s biggest earthquake on record caused a slump in global stocks.

Euro Nations Divided Over Method for Boosting Aid Facility (2)

European governments were divided over how to boost the rescue fund for debt-strapped countries, taking the gloss off a three-day-old pledge to step up the fight against the fiscal crisis.

OTHER MARKETS:

Stocks, Commodities Plunge Amid Japan Disaster; Treasuries Jump

Stocks and U.S. futures fell, with the Nikkei 225 index posting its biggest two-day drop since 1987, while commodities slid and Treasuries jumped on concern a nuclear disaster is unfolding in Japan. Bahrain credit risk soared after Saudi troops entered the nation.

Yen Rises as Japan?s Risk of Radiation Leaks Spurs Repatriation

The yen rose against most of its major counterparts as increased risk in Japan of radiation leaks from a crippled nuclear power station boosted speculation investors there will bring home overseas assets.

Korean Won Falls, Bonds Rise on Nuclear Safety Concern in Japan

South Korea?s won fell to its weakest level this year and government bonds rose as overseas investors sold the nation?s stocks on concern about radiation leaking from nuclear reactors in neighboring Japan.

European Stocks, U.S. Futures Tumble on Japan Radiation Concern

European stocks slumped the most since May as concern grew that a Japanese nuclear power plant will leak radiation. U.S. futures and Asian shares plunged.

Japan Stocks Suffer Third-Worst Trading Day on Radiation Risks

Japan?s shares tumbled, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average and Topix index suffering their third-worst daily declines in history, on record trading volume as concern grew about the safety of nuclear plants damaged by the country?s worst earthquake.

Oil Drops as Japan?s Demand Loss Outweighs Middle East Tension

Oil fell to its lowest price in almost three weeks in London as concern that damage from Japan?s earthquake may limit crude demand outweighed speculation of supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Crude Oil May Drop to $92 After Overbuying: Technical Analysis

Crude oil may fall to $92 a barrel after declining from a 29-month high, according to a technical analysis by brokerage Auerbach Grayson.

Bahrain Declares 3-Month State of Emergency, Arabiya Reports

Bahrain?s King Hamad announced a state of emergency in the Gulf Arab kingdom, home to the U.S. Navy?s Fifth Fleet, for three months after anti-government protests, Al Arabiya television reported today.

Libya Rebel Council to Announce Oil Plan in Days, Arabiya Says

Libya?s rebel council, recognized by France as the OPEC country?s legitimate government, will announce an oil industry strategy within days, the council?s oil adviser Ali Tarhuni told Al Arabiya television today.