Commodities hold steady after reports show drop in consumer confidence, rise in home prices

September 30th, 2009 Drop in consumer confidence pulls stocks lowerNEW YORK — Stocks have reversed early gains and are falling on a report showing Americans are still downbeat on the economy. The Conference Board says its consumer confidence index fell to 53.1 in September, down from 54.5 in August, and much lower than the reading of 57 that economists expected.

September 30th, 2009 Stocks waver on housing, consumer confidence dataNEW YORK — The latest batch of mixed economic data is making it difficult for stocks to take direction. Stocks wavered early Tuesday after the Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell to 53.1 in September, down from 54.5 in August, and much lower than the reading of 57 that economists had been expecting.

September 30th, 2009 Dollar mixed on consumer confidence, home pricesNEW YORK — The dollar inched up against the euro but fell against the pound Tuesday as investors weighed a surprise drop in consumer confidence and a third straight monthly increase in home prices. The 16-nation euro slipped to $1.4568 in late New York trading from $1.4591 late Monday, while the British pound rose to $1.5941 from $1.5869.

September 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government must immediately ban futures trading in all essential commodities to control the "relentless rise" in their prices, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has demanded. "This UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has completely failed in controlling this price rise," noted the CPI-M mouthpiece "People's Democracy".

August 25th, 2009 Summary Box: Consumer sentiment, home prices upWHAT HAPPENED?: Consumer confidence improved more than expected in August, and a nationwide gauge of home prices rose for the first time in three years, a sign the housing sector is stabilizing. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?: Improved consumer sentiment and higher home prices could mean consumers will spend more in the coming months, providing a much-needed boost to the economy.

August 25th, 2009 Consumer sentiment improves; Home prices riseWASHINGTON — Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, and home prices in a closely watched index posted their first quarterly increase in three years, more signs that the economy is on the rebound. The New York-based Conference Board says its Consumer Confidence index rose to 54.1 from an upwardly revised 47.4 in July.

August 11th, 2009 German consumer prices down 0.5 pct in JulyBERLIN — Consumer prices in Germany dropped by 0.5 percent on the year last month, government data showed Tuesday — a slight revision from a preliminary estimate of a 0.6 percent fall. The decline was the first since March 1987, when prices were down 0.3 percent on the year.

July 29th, 2009 Oil falls below $67 on US consumer confidence dropSINGAPORE — Oil prices fell below $67 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as a drop in U.S. consumer confidence and rising crude inventories painted a weak demand outlook.

July 28th, 2009 Drop in consumer confidence weighs on commoditiesNEW YORK — Prices for most commodities fell Tuesday amid a stronger dollar and a report suggesting consumers are still nervous about the economy. Metals and energy prices took the biggest beatings after The Conference Board said consumer confidence weakened more than expected in July.

July 14th, 2009 Gold holds steady while other metals push higherNEW YORK — Gold prices are holding steady, but other metals are higher as investors parse a mixed bag of earnings news and economic reports. A government report showing a bigger-than-expected jump in wholesale inflation numbers in June helped support metals prices.

July 2nd, 2009 BANGALORE - The residents of Bangalore have expressed widespread resentment over the fuel price hike announced Wednesday which, they feel, would result in increase in prices of other essential products and services. After the hike of petrol prices by Rs.4 per litre and diesel prices by Rs.2 per litre, Bangaloreans now have to shell out Rs.50.66 per litre for petrol and Rs.37.01 per litre for diesel.

June 30th, 2009 Commodity prices hit amid growing risk aversionNEW YORK — Commodity prices tumbled across the board Tuesday amid a flood of bearish economic data, including an unexpected drop in consumer confidence. Prices for gold, copper and oil were all lower after a private research group said consumer confidence fell in June.

June 17th, 2009 Commodities reverse early losses, move higherNEW YORK — Prices for commodities like oil and gold are reversing early losses and moving higher as the dollar comes under more pressure. Most commodities fell in the early going as the Labor Department said consumer prices rose less than expected in May, a signal that the recession is holding down prices and that demand for goods is still sluggish.

May 9th, 2009 Gold prices hold steady as Wall Street ralliesNEW YORK — Gold prices are holding steady as a rally in stocks keeps demand for the safe-haven asset in check. Other commodities, like oil and grains, are surging on the day's upbeat economic data.

April 27th, 2009 Survey: Gas prices hold steady in USCAMARILLO, Calif. — Gas prices in the U.S.