Commodities

AXA IM has launched the AXA WF Framlington Natural Resources fund, a global equity offering managed by Sebastien Lagarde and Olivier Eugene.

Investors are selling off gold because of fears interest rates will have to rise higher than expected, Barclays Wealth's Kevin Gardinier has said.

Henderson Global Investors' £519m Bankers Investment Trust has boosted exposure to oil majors, taking the view the sector has been hit too hard in the downturn last month.

International Energy Agency cuts 2011 forecast by 200,000 barrels and 2012 estimate by 400,000, although price not expected to collapse.

Newly listed oil and gas producer Vallares, led by former BP boss Tony Hayward, is set to merge with Genel Energy International.

ExxonMobil has formed an Arctic exploration partnership with Russian state oil company Rosneft, in a strategic coup over rival BP.

LVAM's Graham Ashby and Cavendish's Paul Mumford have both ruled out buying into Glencore, although its share price has dived 13% since listing on the London market in May.

JPM's Neil Gregson has called the bottom of the market for gold mining stocks, especially small caps, tipping them to pick up against bullion as investors look to add risk to their portfolios.

SHOULD YOU JOIN THE FLIGHT TO GOLD?

Gold prices took a nose dive overnight as investors u-turned on risk assets ahead of an expected round of further stimulus in the US, leaving the price more than $160 lower.