UBS AG (UBSN) said Tokyo-based chief equity strategist Shoji Hirakawa has left the company along with three analysts covering electronics, media and insurance companies.

rade sentiment remained mixed Friday as players monitored the days data releases, Eurozone ECONFIN discussions as well as carrying-out month and quarter-end related book squaring. The precious metals closed the day in positive territory up a net 0.85% after gold continued to base build above $1650 while the PGMs saw more of a mixed day. On the month the precious metals saw disappointing results with gold and platinum down around 2% while silver and palladium declined 7%; on the quarter however the metals gained with gold up 6.6%, silver 15.8% and platinum 17.5%, palladium was up just 0.1%.

Corn for May delivery climbed as much as 1.6 percent to $6.545 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade, the highest since March 26. Futures traded at $6.54 by 9:26 a.m. Melbourne time. Soybeans for May delivery rose 0.6 percent to $14.1175 a bushel, while May-delivery wheat gained 0.5 percent to $6.6425 a bushel.

Oil advanced for a second day in New York as investors bet that fuel demand may increase on signs of a strengthening economy in China, the world’s second-biggest crude-consuming nation.

South Korea’s won rose to its strongest level in more than a week and government bonds fell after the government reported a bigger-than-expected trade surplus and Europe stepped up efforts to tackle its debt crisis.

Treasuries fell for a second day following a report that showed an expansion at Chinese factories in March and before data this week that economists said will show U.S. manufacturing and employment increased.

YPF SA (YPFD), Argentina’s largest oil company, is set to lose its most productive field after Chubut province said it plans to revoke more of the company’s licenses.

Ford Motor Co. (F), determined to lift the lid on Lincoln sales, is popping the top on the newest model in its luxury line: The MKZ sedan arriving later this year will feature a retractable glass roof.

Singapore 30/03/2012 - Gold prices firmed during Friday afternoon trading in Asia as the euro made gains against the dollar ahead of a eurozone finance ministers' meeting that may nearly double the bailout capacity of the single currency bloc.

Claims for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest since April 2008 and consumer confidence reached the second-highest level in four years, indicating the labor-market recovery is helping sustain demand.

Oil rose in New York, trimming a third weekly drop, as investors bet that sanctions on Iran will tighten and that yesterday’s decline, the biggest this year, was exaggerated.

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.