Commodities

Commodity Investment Demand Is a `Trend to Stay,' Barclays Capital Says Investor demand for commodities that helped drive gold to a record this week and copper and crude oil to one-year highs is “a trend to stay” as buyers diversify from stocks and bonds, according to Barclays Capital.

China May Slow Imports of Vegetable Oils Amid High Stockpiles, Cofco Says China, the world’s largest consumer of vegetable oil, may slow imports in 2009/2010 amid high domestic stockpiles, an executive from Cofco Oil & Grains Co. said.

Copper Drops as Surging U.S. Jobless Rate Spurs Concerns Demand May Weaken Copper prices declined after a report showed the U.S. jobless rate climbed to a 26-year high as employers cut back more than forecast, raising demand concerns.

Platinum, Palladium Fall as Surging U.S. Jobless Rate May Diminish Demand Platinum prices fell on speculation that demand for the metal used in auto parts and jewelry may weaken further as the U.S. unemployment rate surged to a 26-year high last month. Palladium also declined.

Copper Inventories Increase to Highest in More Than Five Years in Shanghai Shanghai copper stockpiles climbed for a second week to the highest in more than five years, the Shanghai Futures Exchange said in a report on its Web site.