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Gold edges up, eyes on currency market

Gold prices inched up on Monday in the first trading day of the second quarter, waiting for fresh cues from the currency market as investors digest data from China and the United States as well as developments in the euro zone.

markets

markets

Copper rallies, on track for 10 pct Q1 advance

London copper climbed on Friday, tracking strength in equity markets, and prices were headed for a more than 10 percent quarterly gain, although an early advance this year has been pinned back by sluggish demand growth in top consumer China.

markets

markets

France beats deficit target for 2011

PARIS - France beat its deficit-cutting target for 2011 and saw higher-than-expected consumer spending in February in a boost for President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government three weeks from a presidential election.

markets

markets

Total mulls options to put out North Sea flare

France’s Total is laying plans including a helicopter water drop, fire-fighting vessels and spraying nitrogen to extinguish a flare on its Elgin North Sea gas platform that is leaking explosive clouds of gas, the UK energy department said.

markets

markets

World stocks drift before US, China data

BANGKOK — Asia’s major stock markets were mostly lower Friday as nervous investors turned their focus to China after digesting a report showing a slowdown in Japanese industrial production. European shares, though, headed higher.

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