COMMODITIES

Gold held steady around $1,090 an ounce on Friday after its rally to a record high this week on anticipation of renewed central bank demand came to a halt, with investors looking to economic data for direction.

Oil fell nearly 1 percent to below $80 a barrel on Thursday, as doubts about a recovery in oil demand outweighed positive economic signals.

Natural gas spot prices fell over the week at most market locations, declining on average 16 cents per million Btu (MMBtu). Decreases ranged between 2 cents and 77 cents per MMBtu. In the few trading locations where prices rose, increases were modest, ranging between 1 and 4 cents per MMBtu. The Henry Hub natural gas spot price fell 10 cents on the week, closing at $4.49 per MMBtu.

Oil hovered above $80 a barrel after a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories sent prices up 1 percent the previous day, as doubts about the pace of economic recovery in the world's largest fuel consumer tempered the rally.

Oil fell to around $80 a barrel after a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories sent prices up 1 percent the previous day, as traders aimed to lock in profits amid weaker equity markets and a firming dollar.

Oil fell toward $79 a barrel on Thursday, after a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories sent prices up 1 percent the previous day, as traders look to the fall in equities markets and firming dollar to take profits.

The Energy Information Administration's (EIA) U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Proved Reserves, 2008 reports that proved reserves of crude oil fell by more than 10 percent in 2008, primarily because of low end-of-year prices used to estimate proved reserves, even though discoveries of crude oil rose for the third year in a row. In contrast, proved reserves of natural gas rose by 3 percent in 2008, despite low end-of-year prices.

Oil rose above $80 a barrel on Wednesday, extending the previous session's near 2 percent gain, following a U.S. industry report showing an unexpected fall in crude stocks and supported by a weaker dollar.

Oil fell more than $1 per barrel to below $77 on Tuesday as stock markets slipped in Europe and Asia and the dollar rose against a basket of currencies.

Oil fell more than $1 per barrel toward $77 on Tuesday as stock markets slipped in Europe and Asia and the dollar rose against a basket of currencies.

Oil fell more than $1 per barrel toward $77 on Tuesday as the dollar rose against a basket of currencies and as stock markets slipped in Europe and Asia.

Oil slipped below $78 per barrel on Tuesday ahead of data expected to show a rise in U.S. crude oil stocks and before key U.S. economic figures later in the week.

Oil held steady above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

Oil edged further above $78 a barrel on Tuesday, after rising more than 1.5 percent a day ago, as traders weighed the impact of a possible rise in U.S. crude stocks against positive manufacturing and home sales data.

Oil rose above $77 a barrel on Monday, recovering from the previous session's steep drop, after manufacturing data from China revived expectations economic recovery would generate extra fuel demand.

Oil rose toward $78 a barrel on Monday, recovering from the previous session's steep drop, after manufacturing data from China revived expectations economic recovery would generate extra fuel demand.

Oil rose above $78 a barrel on Monday, recovering from the previous session's steep drop, after manufacturing data from China revived expectations economic recovery would generate extra fuel demand.

Oil rose toward $78 a barrel on Monday, recovering from the previous session's drop, after manufacturing data from China revived expectations economic recovery would generate extra fuel demand.

Oil rose above $77 a barrel on Monday, retracing some of the previous session's drop, as manufacturing data from China helped to allay fears about the pace of the rebound in global energy demand.

Oil rose above $77 a barrel on Monday, retracing some of the previous session's 3.6 percent drop, as bullish manufacturing data from China helped to allay fears about the pace of the rebound in global energy demand.

Oil rose toward $78 on Thursday as the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, was expected to return to economic growth, but gains were limited by the weakness of prompt fuel demand.

Oil prices steadied at above $77 a barrel on Thursday, pausing from the previous session's decline of 2.6 percent, as investors waited for more economic data to gauge the pace of economic recovery in the United States.

Distillate (including diesel) is the second largest petroleum product consumed in the United States, used for everything from fuel for trucks and trains to residential heating and even a small amount of power generation. Although still overshadowed by gasoline consumption within the United States, global trends have been rapidly increasing the demand for distillate. This is causing major changes in the United States' role in the world distillate market.

Oil fell below $79 a barrel on Wednesday, pressured by weaker equities and a stronger dollar, and as prices struggled to break through the psychological $80 mark.

Oil edged down toward $79 a barrel on Wednesday, giving up some of the previous day's 1.1 percent gain on weaker Asian equities and a steady dollar, but losses were limited after industry data showed a surprise large drawdown in U.S. crude inventories.

Oil rose above $79 a barrel on Tuesday, up after three straight days of decline as investors awaited new leads from equities markets and weekly crude inventory data from the United States.

Oil paused below $79 a barrel on Tuesday, steady after three straight days of decline as investors awaited new leads from equities markets and weekly crude inventory data from the United States.

Oil steadied at below $79 a barrel on Tuesday, pausing after three straight days of decline, as investors awaited fresh leads from the equities market as well as more economic data to gauge the pace of the global economic recovery.

New York gold futures ended at their lowest level in more than two weeks on Monday as a sudden resurgence of the dollar decreased bullion's appeal as a hedge against a depreciating U.S. currency .