The latest Market Talks covering Commodities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0859 ET - U.S. natural gas futures hold gains with lower LNG feedgas demand offset in part by production slippage. "Most of the support is coming from weather outlooks that are painting virtually the entire lower 48 in the yellow and orange hues of warmer-than-normal temperatures," Gary Cunningham of Tradition Energy says in a note. Hotter weather drives power-sector demand for natural gas as air conditioning use picks up. Strong wind and solar energy have helped keep Texas electricity prices down, while Northeast power markets "haven't been as lucky as heat moves in and demands rise above normal," Cunningham adds. Nymex natural gas is up 1.1% at $3.056/mmBtu. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
0705 ET - Fund managers raised their investments in commodities, utilities, the euro and emerging market stocks in May, the latest Bank of America global fund manager survey shows. Investors reduced their investments in consumer staples, cash, and the U.S. dollar, the report shows. (miriam.mukuru@wsj.com)
0620 ET - Palm oil futures ended higher, with the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for August delivery finishing 53 ringgit higher at 4,587 ringgit a metric ton. Persistent concerns surrounding supply tied to the Middle East conflict continue to underpin the broader oil landscape, Kenanga Futures analysts say in a note. A weaker ringgit could also enhance export competitiveness, they add. They peg the support and resistance levels for the August futures contract at 4,500 ringgit and 4,600 ringgit, respectively. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0412 ET - London-listed miners fall in early morning trade as metal prices cool. Downward pressure on gold and silver prices comes as potentially higher interest rates loom amid the Middle East conflict. Gold futures in New York are down 0.2% at $4,549.30 a troy ounce. Silver is down 1.4%. Three-month copper futures on the LME fall 0.3%, with analysts at ING saying that the drop in copper is due to inflation concerns linked to the Iran war, and weaker Chinese data. "The pullback comes after a strong run, with prices slipping from the recent highs hit just last week amid intensifying macro headwinds," the analysts write. Glencore falls 2.4%, Anglo American is down 2.4% and Rio Tinto falls 2%. Precious metals miner Hochschild is down 2.4% and Fresnillo is down 2.7%. (aimee.look@wsj.com)
0354 ET - European natural-gas prices hold above 50 euros a megawatt-hour as the Iran war drags on, fueling concerns over global supply. A tightening LNG market is already starting to weigh on Europe, with imports down 7% on year last month, as more shipments are being redirected to Asia due to supply shortages, according to ANZ analysts. Meanwhile, potential disruptions at Australia's Ichthys LNG plant due to a planned strike could worsen the situation and affect key buyers like Japan and Taiwan. The benchmark Dutch TTF front-month contract is up 0.5% to 50.49 euros a megawatt-hour. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0342 ET - Copper prices fall in early European trading, pressured by inflation concerns and weaker Chinese data. "The pullback comes after a strong run, with prices slipping from the recent highs hit just last week amid intensifying macro headwinds," analysts at ING say. U.S.-Iran tensions and higher oil prices have increased fears of persistent inflation and stricter monetary policy, which could hurt global growth and industrial demand. Meanwhile in China, softer activity in investment, retail and industrial output added to concerns about the demand outlook. Three-month copper futures on the LME are down 0.3% to $13,544.50 a metric ton. Despite the retreat, prices are up more than 8% year-to-date, supported by tech-related demand and supply constraints. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0337 ET - Gold prices hold just above $4,500 a troy ounce, pressured by expectations of higher interest rates as the Iran conflict drags on. Futures in New York are down 0.2% to $4,549.30 a troy ounce. News that President Trump decided to hold off on a planned attack on Iran to allow more time for negotiations provided some support, though bullion is down more than 13% since the war began. "Traders remain focused on the Middle East crisis and the inflationary impact of sustained higher energy prices," analysts at Saxo Bank say. "Escalating tensions can weigh on gold through higher yields and a stronger dollar, while any credible path toward de-escalation or peace may ultimately support prices." (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0324 ET - Oil prices recoup some losses following a 2% slide after President Trump said he would hold off on a planned U.S. attack on Iran to make room for peace negotiations. Brent crude falls 1.6% to $110.32 a barrel, while WTI futures are down 0.5% to $103.9 a barrel. "The oil market continues to trade in wide ranges, and it remains extremely sensitive to Iran-related headlines," analysts at ING say. "ICE Brent traded almost in a $6/bbl range yesterday." Meanwhile, the U.S. extended a sanctions waiver allowing countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea for another 30 days--a move that analysts say will be welcomed by Asian buyers, who are more exposed to supply disruptions in the Middle East. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
2242 ET - Palm oil prices fall in Asian trading, weighed by soybean oil's weakness on the Chicago Board of Trade as well as lower palm olein on the Dalian Commodity Exchange, says David Ng, a trader at Kuala Lumpur-based Iceberg X. However, strength in the crude oil market amid the Middle East conflict could support CPO prices by boosting demand for palm oil as a biofuel, he adds. Ng sees resistance at 4,600 ringgit a ton and support at 4,480 ringgit a ton. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for August delivery is 14 ringgit lower at 4,520 ringgit a ton. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
2225 ET - Iron ore edges lower in early Asian trading. "Market risk appetite has pulled back, exerting downward pressure on broader commodity performance," Nanhua Futures says in a research note. Near-term market sentiment has cooled significantly as China's 1Q GDP outperformed expectations, leaving the central bank limited room to deploy broad easing measures like rate cutes in the near term, they say. The most-traded iron-ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange is lower by 0.9% at 798.0 yuan a ton. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)
2220 ET - Copper edges higher in early Asian trade as prices continue to fluctuate. Chinese companies remain cautious about purchasing due to high prices, Nanhua Futures says in a note. Imported copper continues to arrive in the Shanghai market, increasing the overall inventory level, it adds. The three-month LME copper contract is 0.2% higher at $13,613.50 a ton. (kimberley.kao@wsj.com)
1937 ET - Gold rises in early Asian trade amid hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace deal that could lead to lower oil prices. This might ease inflationary pressures and soothe investor worries over central banks' rate increases that typically reduce the non-interest-bearing appeal of the precious metal. President Trump said that he would hold off on a planned U.S. attack on Iran at the request of Gulf leaders to make room for talks with Tehran over a prospective deal to end the war.Spot gold is 0.4% higher at $4,586.39 per ounce. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 19, 2026 09:15 ET (13:15 GMT)
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