CHINA

China kept silent on Friday about a reported visit by North Korea's secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, that analysts say appears intended to line up Beijing behind his dynastic succession plans.

Copper and other base metal prices rose up to 5 per kg in the non-ferrous metal market on Thursday on continued buying by stockists on industrial demand amid firming trend at the London Metal Exchange.

Australia, one of the world's largest wheat exporters, said its exports to China have already tripled this year. According to Australian Wheat Board (AWB), demand from the world's most populous nation in the nine months ended June 30 totalled 740,000 tonnes, of which 80 per cent was in bulk and 20 per cent in containers, or about 7 per cent of total wheat shipments.

North Korea's number two leader has told former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that the reclusive state is committed to denuclearising the peninsula and resuming six-way talks, the North's state news agency said on Friday.

North Korea's number two leader has told former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that the reclusive state is committed to denuclearising the peninsula and resuming six-way talks, the North's state news agency said on Friday.

BHP Billiton's chief executive flies to North America this week to mount a charm offensive to woo Potash Corp shareholders, as a potential Chinese rival bidder reiterated it was closely watching BHP's $39 billion (25 billion pound) offer.

Gold slipped on Thursday, ending a two-day rise, as U.S. jobless claims declined more than expected, denting bullion's case as a safe-haven investment.

It seems there is no end to China's appetite for metals. China's economic health is robust and it is continuing with the metal buying spree. China's imports of all metals rose in July with imports of refined lead in particular jumping by over 80 per cent compared with June, while refined zinc and nickel imports both surged by over 50 per cent.

Gold prices remain higher in Asian trade Thursday a day after the WGC said regional giants India and China were likely to provide the main thrust to demand growth this year.

China remains world's second largest gold consumer behind India though its gold demand increased by 26 percent year-on-year in the second quarter. According to World Gold Council (WGC), China's gold demand in the April-June period reached 111.7 tons.

India, the world's largest gold consumer accounted for 30 percentage of the global gold jewelry demand. According to World Gold Council, jewellery was dominated by India, with demand of 123t or 30% of the world total, just down from the 32% market share of Q1.

Two of China's top automakers posted forecast-beating earnings on Wednesday but will struggle to match that performance amid a murky outlook for the world's biggest auto market.

China's Geely Automobile Holdings, whose parent bought Ford's Volvo unit this month, warned of tougher competition and slower sales after its record first-half earnings beat forecasts on Wednesday.

India's love affair with the yellow metal is gaining strength every year with the 2010 first half showing a 94 per cent rise in demand for gold in India as compared to the 2009 first six months.

World Gold Council on Wednesday said big traditional gold consumers like India and China help gold demand reach 1,050.3 metric tons in the second quarter. In a report, the WGC said this is 36 percent higher than the same quarter in 2009, mostly due to soaring investment demand.

World's largest cooking oil consumer China said the country needs to step up agricultural innovation, including development of its own GM varieties, in response to climate change and to reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

The hot news now is the BHP Billiton's unsolicited offer to buy Canadian fertiliser company, PotashCorp for $40 bn and PotashCorp taking alternative measures to block the bid. It is not yet clear why fertiliser companies have suddenly become hot favourites for acquisitions and mergers.

China's BYD Co Ltd, backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, warned on Monday of a slowdown in car sales during the second half of the year and said it will launch new models to lessen the impact.

Oil rebounded to top $74 a barrel on Monday on a weaker dollar, but prices stayed close to last week's six-week lows on bulging U.S. inventories and a lack of hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico. The market gained support from the weaker U.S. dollar, which makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies .DXY, and from a firmer start to trading by European equities.

Douglas Clayton, chief executive officer of private equity fund manager Leopard Capital, has launched his second fund focused on Cambodia.

At a time when China is hurrying to open up its gold bullion sector, India is shying away from allowing banks to invest in Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This has come to light recently as the Forward Markets Commission (FMC), the commodity futures market regulator, suggesting to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that banks should not be allowed to invest in gold ETFs.