PERTH, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices,
a benchmark for Asia, rose back above $110 per tonne during
the past week, boosted by increasing demand from Europe where
a cold spell has increased buying.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index for the
week to date was $110.35 per tonne on Monday, up from $107.88
a week earlier and up more than $4 from $105.77 on Friday.

PERTH, Nov 24 (Reuters) – The Asian liquefied natural gas
spot market will likely expand as buyers wary of long-term
contract pricing look for more flexibility, an executive at
India’s Petronet LNG Ltd (PLNG.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday.

“Indian and Asian LNG markets are lagging – most of the LNG
which is sold in Asian markets is long term (but) eventually,
the trend will change and Asian buyers will look for more
flexibility,” said Anil Joshi, senior vice-president of major
projects and business development at Petronet.

PERTH, Australia, Nov 16 (Reuters) – Global miner BHP
Billiton (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has not given up on large acquisitions and
does not regret spending $875 million pursuing three massive
deals that failed over the past two years, its chairman said on
Tuesday.

Chairman Jac Nasser dismissed speculation the company would
turn to smaller deals because it is too big to win regulatory
approval for major takeovers.

PERTH (Reuters) – Oil prices remained steady around $85 a barrel on Monday, as the prospect of Chinese interest rate increases and uncertainty about sovereign debt in Europe continued to weigh on the market.

“The market is worried about consumption, that China will introduce interest rates that will slow demand and as a result of that you could find that oil could trade a lot lower,” said Jonathan Barratt, managing director of Commodity Broking Services in Sydney.

PERTH/JAKARTA, Nov 15 (Reuters) – A strong La Nina effect
threatens more drenching of waterlogged coal production areas
in Australia and Indonesia over the next six months, cutting
exports and driving up prices just as Chinese winter demand
kicks in.

As a result, prices for Australia’s thermal coal, the Asian
benchmark, could move as high as $120 per tonne before the end
of the year from around $109 now, said Mark Pervan, head of
commodity research at ANZ Bank in Sydney. A price above $120
would be the highest since September 2008.

PERTH (Reuters) – Oil rose to near $85 a barrel on Monday, making a small recovery from last week’s plunge in commodity prices as some investors bargain hunted.

But the prospect of Chinese interest rate increases and uncertainty about sovereign debt in Europe continued to weigh on the market, capping gains, analysts said.

PERTH (Reuters) – U.S. crude oil rose slightly on Monday, trading near $87 a barrel on continued support from last week’s U.S. Federal Reserve’s economic stimulus package and stronger-than-expected jobs data.

Oil prices will likely to continue to trade in a tight range near $87 a barrel on profit-taking and as the market seeks additional cues on demand, analysts said.

PERTH/SYDNEY (Reuters) – BHP Billiton’s blocked bid for Potash Corp has spurred talk that the miner will now focus on oil and gas targets such as Australia’s Woodside Petroleum, but some analysts are sceptical.

Investors hope BHP will look at a share buyback or special dividend, but analysts said the miner could also use its huge war chest to boost its oil-and-gas assets. Woodside and Australia’s Oil Search have been touted as possible targets, with both stocks rallying since Ottawa indicated this week it would block the $39 billion (24 billion pounds) Potash bid.

PERTH/SYDNEY (Reuters) – BHP Billiton’s blocked bid for Potash Corp has spurred talk that the miner will now focus on oil and gas targets such as Australia’s Woodside Petroleum, but some analysts are skeptical.

Investors hope BHP will look at a share buyback or special dividend, but analysts said the miner could also use its huge war chest to boost its oil-and-gas assets. Woodside and Australia’s Oil Search have been touted as possible targets, with both stocks rallying since Ottawa indicated this week it would block the $39 billion Potash bid.

PERTH, Oct 29 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices,
a benchmark for Asia, rose over $1 a tonne during the last week
as continuing concern about wet weather in both Indonesia and
Australia as well as Chinese buying interest boosted prices.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index for the week
to date was $100.48 per tonne for prompt delivery on Friday, up
from $99.03 a week earlier.