COMMODITIES

From Stan Shamu, Markets Strategist, IG MarketsGlobal markets extended their losses overnight on deepening concerns about the European debt crisis, after a poorly-received German debt sale. Germany failed to find buyers for 35% of the bonds it offered at an auction. There was also a swathe of disappointing economic data, with European services and manufacturing output shrinking for a third month, US durable goods orders falling and unemployment claims topping forecasts.

Oil grabbed the attention last week in New York with the first move above the $US100 a barrel mark for the first time in four months.

For economic and strategic reasons, the U.S. must rebuild its rare earth minerals supply chain, Senate staffers were told by the United States Magnetic Materials Association.

A new proposal would expand offshore drilling in U.S. waters, but it's drawing fire from supporters as well as critics of the oil and gas industry.

Wood could become a commercially viable biofuel and serve as a substitute for corn and sugar cane by 2020 if efforts are made to develop it, a study by University of British Columbia says.

Florida-based asset management firm Stonehenge Capital Management (SCM) announced Monday that its new direction-neutral hedge fund strategy called Forward Curve Realignment (FCR) resulted in strong returns one month after its launching.

Victorian-based Rex Minerals has upgraded its plans for its low grade but huge Hillside copper prospect on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, potentially doubling the original production forecasts.

Fueled by fears over the continuing and escalating global financial meltdown, prices of gold are projected to increase by end of this year and way into 2012 as investors turn to the metal commodity to assure their financial capabilities. Mining companies said the precious commodity may hit $2,000 an ounce by end 2011, and further hike to $2,300 an ounce by the close of 2012.

China aims to contribute to ending world hunger and malnutrition by cultivating a super grain capable of yielding an output of 15 tons per hectare come 2020.

Australia’s growing economic relationship with Asian markets, specifically with China and India, fuelled the country’s fifth trade surplus in July, which economists described as both steady but mostly insignificant movement.

A study by researchers at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom theorises that a meteor shower 3.9 million years ago was the source of previous metals on the planet Earth.

No wonder Chinese companies are back in commodity markets, especially base metals and the best indicator of all, copper.

A surprising aerodynamic innovation in wind turbine design called the 'wind lens' could triple the output of a typical wind turbine, making it less costly than nuclear power.

Romania's president wants to mine for gold in Transylvania — even if it means destroying a 2,000-year-old Roman mine and historic site in the process.

Politicians have raised fresh questions about the role of coal seam gas in Australia's energy future.

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Unlike BlueScope Steel, which has cut the value of its assets by around $900 million and warned of a major restructuring to be announced next week, rival steelmaker, OneSteel has been quietly hacking away at costs without the too much publicity.

I love this country, its people, its rugged beauty, its rainforests, its vastness and unique wildlife. And, as a longtime advocate of the environment, I am greatly concerned for the continued health and wellness of Australia. My dream is that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the Australia that we all know and love.

For quite a while now Australia has been talking about adopting a carbon tax; but will it be a good option to decrease our carbon emissions?

Sundance shares ended 22.5% higher at 49 cents.

A less frenetic week would normally be expected this week after the volatile trading conditions and poor data flow last week, but with the unofficial deadline of Friday night, our time, for the US debt ceiling/spending cuts talks to reach some sort of agreement, tension will remain high until a deal emerges.

The public has only been given a month to comment on an issues paper guiding the formation of a much-needed national food plan - a period which is inadequate and must be extended, according to advocacy group the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance (SFFA).

Cargill has pledged that the palm oil products it supplies in markets including Europe and the US will be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) or originate from smallholder growers by 2015.

Gold and oil ended mixed to weaker on Friday in the wake of the move by the International Energy Agency to drop 60 million barrels of oil onto the world market in the next few weeks.

The Australian stock market is seen receiving a little shove from the negative leads over volatile overnight sessions in the US and European stock markets. The ASX is seen performing modestly on Friday.

The urge to merge in the medium to small end of the Australian gold sector continues with Focus Minerals making a friendly bid for Crescent Gold to create a company with a value of around $350 million.

Another rough day for Woodside Petroleum with the company's shares hitting a new 52 week low of $39.87 as investors continued to sell after Friday's shock cost blow out and delay to its Pluto LNG project in WA.

While Australian wheat is highly regarded in Asia, there are buyer concerns about increasing levels of screenings and foreign matter, a new market research supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has revealed.

So much for all the doom and gloom about high taxes, such as the mining and carbon tax coming from the mining industry.