Oil prices sank heavily last week as traders tracked the dollar and Greek debt concerns, and shrugged off a widely-expected decision from the 12-nation Opec cartel to maintain crude output levels. Many other commodities were also dragged lower by stubborn concerns about Greece, and the stronger greenback, which makes dollar-priced raw materials more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, and therefore hits demand.
"Oil prices were getting their cue from the broader market as persistent concerns over Greece with the commodity complex suffering as well," said VTB Capital's Andrey Kryuchenkov. "Otherwise, little changed in the world of oil with market participants still digesting the bullish weekly report on US fuel inventories report and Opec's decision to keep production levels unchanged on Wednesday."
OIL: World oil prices took a tumble as a strong US currency dented investor enthusiasm for dollar-priced crude, analysts said. The European single currency tumbled as low as 1.3503 dollars on Friday, as investors sought the safe-haven US currency amid uncertainty about aid for debt-plagued Greece.
"It's the euro sliding against the dollar everything is tumbling, so hence we are down in line with the broader market," added Kryuchenkov. Anxiety over the fate of Greek finances deepened as the European Union groped for common ground on how to ensure that Greece will be able to borrow money on financial markets at rates similar to those paid by its partners.
Greek authorities have made it clear they are prepared to go to the International Monetary Fund for help, sending a further jolt through financial markets. Opec meanwhile left its output ceiling at 24.84 million barrels a day at a meeting in Vienna on Wednesday, citing uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment and global oil demand.
The cartel, which pumps 40 percent of world oil, said it would review the economic situation at its next meeting on October 14. Elsewhere on Wednesday, the US Department of Energy said stockpiles of distillates, including diesel and heating fuel, fell more than expected, by 1.5 million barrels, in the week ending March 12.
Gasoline or petrol inventories sank by 1.7 million barrels, widely topping forecasts. In addition, fears that Beijing will take more steps to cool the booming Chinese economy also hit sentiment. China is the second biggest global oil consuming nation after the United States.
By late Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Texas light sweet crude for delivery in April plunged to 80.29 dollars from 82.42 dollars a week earlier. On London's IntercontinentalExchange, Brent North Sea crude for May delivery dived to 79.66 dollars from 80.56 dollars for the expired April contract a week earlier.
BASE METALS: Base or industrial metals mostly fell. By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months dipped to 7,419 dollars a tonne from 7,480 dollars the previous week.
-- Three-month aluminium dropped to 2,252 dollars a tonne from 2,256 dollars.
-- Three-month lead slid to 2,220 dollars a tonne from 2,272 dollars.
-- Three-month tin grew to 17,700 dollars a tonne from 17,500 dollars.
-- Three-month zinc fell to 2,290 dollars a tonne from 2,352 dollars.
-- Three-month nickel slipped to 22,450 dollars a tonne from 21,765 dollars.
PRECIOUS METALS: The prices of precious metals diverged in subdued trade. By Friday on the London Bullion Market, gold eased to 1,105 dollars an ounce from 1,106.25 dollars the previous week. Silver was unchanged at 17.31 dollars an ounce. On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum edged down to 1,617 dollars an ounce from 1,619 dollars. Palladium firmed to 476 dollars an ounce from 464 dollars.
SUGAR: Prices continued to decline, having struck a 33-year pinnacle at the start of the month. By Friday on the New York Board of Trade (NYBOT), the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in May dropped to 18.42 US cents a pound from 19.53 cents the previous week. On Liffe, London's futures exchange, the price of a tonne of white sugar for May slid to 523.90 pounds from 541.90 pounds.
COCOA: Cocoa prices also pulled lower. By Friday on Liffe, the price of cocoa for delivery in May dipped to 2,218 pounds a tonne from 2,194 pounds the previous week. On the NYBOT, the May cocoa contract eased to 2,863 dollars a tonne from 2,870 dollars.
COFFEE: Coffee prices hit another three-year trough in London at 1,212 dollars a tonne on expectations of higher production. "Expectations of an improved coffee crop in Brazil and Colombia drove speculative financial investors to reduce their net-long positions and brought the price under considerable pressure," said Commerzbank analysts.
By Friday on Liffe/, Robusta for delivery in May rose to 1,264 dollars a tonne from 1,239 dollars the previous week. On the NYBOT, Arabica for May dipped to 133 US cents a pound from 134.90 cents.
GRAINS AND SOYA: Grains and soya prices gained ground. By Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade, maize for delivery in May rose to 3.73 dollars a bushel from 3.64 dollars the previous week. May-dated soyabean meal - used in animal feed - increased to 9.56 dollars from 9.25 dollars. Wheat for May was up to 4.87 dollars a bushel from 4.85 dollars.
RUBBER: Malaysian rubber prices also fell in line with most other commodities. On Friday, the Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 dropped to 313.0 US cents a kilo, from 318.35 cents last week.