Iran and its leading oil buyers, China and India, are finding ways to skirt U.S. and European Union financial sanctions on Iran by agreeing to trade oil for local currencies and goods including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products.

Singapore 29/03/2012 - Gold prices edged higher during Thursday afternoon trading in Asia as the euro rebounded against the dollar and bargain hunters emerged after yesterday's small correction in commodities, but low crude oil prices weighed on the market.

The precious metals slipped lower Wednesday in line with wider markets as month/quarter-end book squaring together with the absence of fresh risk appetite prompted players to par their positions. The complex closed near the day’s lows, settling down a net 1.5% after gold failed to conquer resistance around $1700 while the industrial precious metals struggled under negative technical outlooks as platinum failed to break above trend-line resistance around $1664 while palladium dipped to its lowest in 10-weeks touching $643

London 29/03/2012 - Yesterday's lack of follow through buying for the second day after Bernanke’s comments on Monday, suggest concerns over China’s growth are gaining traction. Copper is heading back towards the lower end of its range, as is aluminium, zinc and tin, while lead and nickel extended lower.

* Gold hits a high above $1,664, then slips * Coming Up: U.S. weekly jobless claims; 1230 GMT

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. (FCG), the world’s largest dairy exporter, plans to boost investment in dairy farms and plants in China and other emerging markets as rising demand pushes milk prices higher in the next decade.

Cotton demand in China, the largest user, may rebound this year, increasing imports and stemming a decline in prices, said Zhang Hongxia, president of Hong Kong- listed Weiqiao Textile Co.

Oil traded near the lowest close in almost a week in New York after U.S. inventories surged and Western countries discussed tapping emergency reserves.

Oil dropped from the highest close in more than a week in New York as investors bet that rising U.S. stockpiles signal fuel demand may falter in the world’s biggest crude-consuming nation.

Myanmar’s emergence as Asia’s next tiger economy is more potential than reality as a rush of investors finds little to spend money on besides a limited supply of hotel rooms after six decades of isolation.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said unemployment remains too high, the recovery in the U.S. economy isn’t assured and policy makers don’t rule out any further options to boost growth.

STANDARD BANK DAILY

The dollar traded 0.1 percent from its lowest level this month against the euro after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said accommodative monetary policy is still needed, reducing demand for U.S. assets.

Almost half of Australian executives surveyed by an international law firm favor higher trade barriers to protect the nation’s food supply and see foreign investment in agriculture as a threat.

Rio Tinto Group, the world’s third- largest mining company, is considering selling its diamond assets because the mines may no longer fit its strategy, joining BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) in a similar sale process.