PARIS: European wheat futures turned lower on Monday as operators claimed some profits after the market earlier set fresh highs since last year on continuing concern dry weather in the United States and Russia will cut production in the major exporters. In heavy, volatile trade, Paris futures initially rose on the back of Chicago prices, which climbed as much as 3.8 percent to an 8-1/2 month high. Paris prices then fell, with traders citing some farmer selling ...

SINGAPORE; Gold inched up on Monday to extend last week's rise, tracking a steady euro after world leaders pledged to combat financial turmoil, although worries about Greece and the euro zone debt crisis continued to feed caution in the financial markets. A pledge by the world's leaders to keep Greece in the euro zone offered some relief to the euro, which rose to its highest level in nearly a week against the dollar, while the greenback ...

BAMAKO: Mali confirmed on Wednesday its forecast for a strong rise in local cotton production for the 2012/2013 season despite unrest that included a March 22 military coup and a rebellion that has since gained control of the northern part of the country. "The forecast is for 500,000 tonnes against 445,143 tonnes (for 2011/2012)," Ousmane Cisse, head of statistics for the CMDT cotton company told Reuters, adding that favourable rainfall plus steady local farmgate cotton prices ...