Commodities

Veteran investor Jim Rogers has warned the US is nearing a financial crisis which will be worse than 2008, unless the government initiates draconian cuts.

An OPEC dispute over whether to raise oil production levels has sent oil prices soaring to $117.8 per barrel.

COMMODITIES SELL-OFF WAS JUSTIFIED

Defensive companies have been out of favour for a long time but now a series of factors could push them back into the spotlight, writes Richard Jeffrey, chief investment officer, Cazenove Capital.

With 2010 proving a difficult year for equity income, the first quarter of 2011 has provided some hope for the sector, writes Peter Brunt, analyst at S&P Fund Services.

UK Leading Companies manager Richard Hallett warns against backing commodities too heavily.

Castlestone Management has suspended subscriptions on three of its Dublin-domiciled funds following an order by the Central Bank of Ireland.

A commodity sell-off sent the FTSE 100 down almost 2% at 3pm as investors dumped risk assets on European debt concerns.

Glencore International has closed its books a day early after its initial 530p per share offer garnered strong investor demand.

Slower global growth combined with the end of QE in the US has left commodities vulnerable to a further correction, Cazenove's Richard Jeffrey has warned.