CRUDE OIL

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a mixed opening on Monday, after indices recorded a second straight week of gains on Friday.

Inflation eased slightly in January but was still higher than expected, reinforcing expectations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will keep tightening policy because price pressures are still above its comfort zone.

India's annual industrial output in December rose at its slowest pace in 20 months on a higher base last year and stretched capacities at factories, but the Reserve Bank will likely continue tightening monetary policy to tame high headline inflation.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday as data showed the U.S trade deficit widened in December, and jitters over Egypt continued.

Factory gate inflation rose twice as fast as expected last month, and the cost of raw materials soared, heaping pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates sooner rather than later.

Soaring oil prices will help France's Total (TOTF.PA) produce bumper annual profits on Friday, when investors hope for details on how much Europe's third-largest oil group will invest to revive output.

World stock markets fell hard on Thursday, with Hong Kong shares losing 2% and London's FTSE100 dropping 0.9% by lunchtime. Indian stock markets have lost more than $20 million per minute so far in 2011, the Economic Times reports, with billionaire Anil Ambani blaming vicious and illegal rumors.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Thursday despite better-than-expected jobs data with tech stocks particularly remaining weak as disappointing earnings from Cisco Systems weighed on the sentiment

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Thursday despite better-than-expected weekly jobless claims data as disappointing earnings from Cisco Systems weighed on the sentiment.

Ghana's inflation rate jumped to 9.08 percent in January, the first increase in 19 months and due partly to a 30 percent rise in petrol prices, but analysts still expect the central bank to keep interest rates on hold next week.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Wednesday as investors preferred to take profits after the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its highest level since June 2008 on Tuesday.

U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Wednesday as investors await comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economic outlook and monetary policy.

Gold rose back towards yesterday's 3-week peaks in London on Wednesday, pushing higher against all major currencies as world stock markets slipped.

World stocks and oil prices ebbed from recent highs on Tuesday after China raised interest rates for the second time in just over a month, spurring worries of the hike's impact on global economic demand.

U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Tuesday after China raised interest rates for the third time since last October in response to accelerating consumer and asset inflation.

The price of crude oil - and the consumer products like gasoline and diesel fuel that are made from it - will head higher in the summer months, said John Hofmeister, former CEO of Shell Oil.

Physical delivery times for wholesale Silver Bars in London – heart of the world's physical bullion markets – have improved. But major dealers continue to offer three-day settlement or longer, compared with the more normal two-day terms.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Monday with the S&P 500 Index gaining 4.88 points, or 0.37 percent, to trade at 1,315.75 at 9:50 a.m. EDT. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 36.63 points, or 0.30 percent, to trade at 12,128.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.31 percent.

U.S. stocks wavered in early trade on Friday after a government report showed that U.S. added fewer jobs than forecast for January, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined to its lowest level since April 2009

Dollar Gold and Silver Prices were little changed in London trade on Friday, unmoved by unexpectedly weak US jobs data near two- and 3-week highs respectively.

The government has resolved a month-long payments dispute with Iran over oil shipments, a source at the oil ministry said on Thursday, by allowing a domestic bank to handle payments in euros with a Germany-based counterpart.