The following are the top stories on metals, agriculture and shipping. ECONOMIC EVENTS: Forecast Prior Time (N.Y.) U.S. Durable Goods Orders 2.0% -1.5% 8:30 U.S. New Home Sales 300K 288K 10:00 USDA Broiler Eggs Set -- 196095 15:00 METAL PRICES: ($/ton) Last % Chg RSI Copper 8,350 -1.9 58 Aluminum 2,357 -1.4 53 Zinc 2,543 -2.8 68 Lead 2,552 -1.6 68 Nickel 22,900 -1.7 43 Tin 26,175 -2.0 57 Other Markets: Last % Chg % YTD U.S. Dollar Index 77.817 +0.1 +2.2 Crude Oil $81.86 -0.8 +2.9 Gold $1,333.8 -0.5 +28 MSCI World Index 1,220.87 -0.2 +7.9 COMMODITY EXCLUSIVES: Silver to Extend Rally to $26, Zeman Says: Technical Analysis Silver prices, already outperforming gold and copper, will extend a rally to a 30-year high, according to technical analysis by Matthew Zeman, a trader at LaSalle Futures Group in Chicago. French Power Plant Workers to Cut Output; Prices Jump (Update1) French power-plant workers are set to go on strike this evening in protest against planned pension reforms, cutting output at all types of plants, a representative for the CGT union said. Sovereign Wealth Funds May Buy Carbon Asset Companies, S&P Says Sovereign wealth funds may join JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Barclays Plc in buying smaller carbon-asset developers, said Michael Wilkins, managing director of global carbon markets at Standard & Poor’s. Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Hedges for 3% Yuan Advance (Update2) Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings Ltd., China’s third- largest shipyard outside state control, is basing currency- hedging on the yuan gaining 3 percent a year in expectation the government will prevent rises above that pace. INDUSTRIAL METALS: Copper Falls as Dollar Strengthens Before U.S. Economic Reports Copper fell in London as the dollar strengthened for a second day before reports that may show increased orders for durable goods and higher sales of new houses in the U.S. China 2010 Aluminum Consumption Better Than Expected (Update1) China’s aluminum surplus is likely to narrow next year, as strong growth in consumption will absorb an increase an output, according to Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. Southern Copper to Resume Refinery Copper Shipments (Update1) Southern Copper Corp., the largest producer of copper in Mexico and Peru, will resume shipments of the metal from its refinery and smelter at the La Caridad complex in northern Mexico “within days or a couple of weeks maximum,” said a spokesman for parent Grupo Mexico. MINING: Hydro Reports Third-Quarter Loss on Currency, Qatalum (Update1) Norsk Hydro ASA, Europe’s third- largest aluminum maker, said third-quarter earnings were wiped out by currency losses and an outage at its Qatari plant. China Gridlock Pushes Coal to Four-Month High: Energy Markets China is driving up world coal prices as clogged roads and railways from Beijing to Tibet restrict deliveries in the world’s fastest-growing major economy while the country tries to build stockpiles ahead of winter. Vale May Scrap Brazilian Real Hedges as Currency War Escalates Vale SA, the world’s largest iron- ore miner, may opt against hedging as much as $30 billion of costs in currencies other than the U.S. dollar this year as a global “currency war” complicates foreign exchange forecasts. PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Declines on Dollar Rise; Palladium Gains to Nine-Year High Gold declined for the first time in four days after the dollar advanced, curbing demand for the metal as an alternative investment. Palladium increased to a nine-year high. Polymetal CEO Uses Technology, Merrill History to Double Returns OAO Polymetal’s Vitaly Nesis, who doubled his company’s value to make it the best performer in gold mining across Europe, Asia and Africa, says he can do it all again by bringing new mining methods to Russia. AGRICULTURE: Palm Oil Drops for Second Day as Commodities Slide on Dollar Palm oil dropped for a second day after reaching a 27-month high this week as a rebound in the dollar dented the appeal of commodities and on speculation China may take further steps to curb inflation. Soybeans, Corn Drop as U.S. Harvest Nears Finish; Wheat Falls Soybeans and corn fell in Chicago as the U.S. harvest neared completion. Wheat slid on speculation that the dollar’s advance may slow demand for U.S. crops. Rubber Supply Squeeze to ‘Worsen’ in Fourth Quarter (Update2) A natural rubber supply shortage will likely “worsen” in the fourth quarter as unseasonal rainfall continues to disrupt production from key growers, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries said. Sugar Falls a Second Day on Speculation of Supplies From India Sugar fell for a second day in London and New York on prospects for increased supplies from India, the world’s largest producer after Brazil. SHIPPING: Singapore Top Pick in Shipping, Ahead of London, Recruiter Says Singapore is the top destination for people in the shipping industry, ahead of London, Geneva and New York, Faststream Recruitment Ltd. said in a report. Le Havre, Antifer Have 16 Tankers Anchored, Inchcape Says The French ports of Le Havre and Antifer have 16 tankers anchored outside waiting to berth after a strike, Inchcape Shipping Services said in a notice on its website. FBR Cuts Fourth-Quarter VLCC Estimate to $23,500 From $45,000 Daily rates for very large crude carriers will average $23,500 in the fourth quarter, compared with a previous estimate of $45,000, FBR Capital Markets said in a report today. Gulf Navigation 9-Month Net Falls to 8.3 Million Dirhams Gulf Navigation Holding’s nine-month profit fell to 8.3 million dirhams from 11.6 million dirhams in the year-ago period, according to a statement to the Dubai bourse today. ECONOMIES: China’s Wen May Be Target of Communist Editorial (Update2) China’s Communist Party mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, disputed criticism that political reform is lagging behind economic growth, in what analysts said may be an attack on calls for greater openness by Premier Wen Jiabao. ‘Uncontrolled’ Dollar Is China Inflation Threat, Official Says The U.S. Federal Reserve’s “uncontrolled” issuance of dollars is adding to inflation risks in China and creating difficulties for the nation’s businesses, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said. Cameron’s Budget Gamble Pays Off for Now as Economy Holds Firm British Prime Minister David Cameron’s once-in-a-generation budget gamble is paying off for now as the economy’s unexpected strength eases investors’ qualms over the risk of a renewed recession. Istanbul Developers Aim to Restore Ottoman-Era Glory (Update1) When Emrah Gultekin looks at the crumbling facades, dangling laundry lines and narrow streets of Istanbul’s working- class Balat district, he envisions a prosperous neighborhood with the best views and highest prices in the city. Australia’s Less-Than-Forecast Inflation Is RBA ‘Vindication’ Australian consumer prices rose less than forecast last quarter, driving down the nation’s currency as traders unwound bets the central bank will raise interest rates next week. OTHER MARKETS: Treasuries Fall as Greek Yields Soar; U.S. Futures, Metals Drop Treasuries dropped for the sixth day and European bonds fell before a U.S. report that may give the Federal Reserve fewer reasons to buy securities to support the economy. Greek bonds and U.S. futures retreated while commodities declined. Dollar Rises to One-Week High on Speculation About Fed Easing The dollar rose to a one-week high against the euro as stocks and U.S. Treasuries fell, indicating traders were scaling back expectations of the size of potential Federal Reserve asset purchases that may be announced next week. European Stocks Fluctuate as Rio, SAP Drop, Deutsche Bank Gains European stocks fluctuated amid mixed earning reports and as investors speculated whether the Federal Reserve will announce sufficient measures next week to keep the recovery on track. Asian shares and U.S. futures fell. Asian Stocks Fall to Two-Week Low on Fed Reserve Speculation Asian stocks fell, dragging down the MSCI Asia Pacific Index by the most in almost two weeks on speculation a possible Federal Reserve asset-purchase program that may be announced next week will disappoint investors. Democrats Say Jon Stewart Rally Will Spur Enthusiasm to Vote Democrats are looking to a pair of comedians to do what President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and dozens of other leaders haven’t done yet this election season: Get party members excited about voting. Sheikh Saqr Dies After 62-Year Rule in RAK Emirate (Update1) Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who ruled Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven members of the United Arab Emirates, since 1948, died today at the age of 92, the official news agency WAM reported on its website. SPORTS: Santa Cruz and Tevez May Leave Manchester City: Soccer Roundup The following is a roundup of soccer stories from European newspapers, with clickable links to the Web. Manchester United, West Brom Reach League Cup Quarterfinals Defending champion Manchester United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals of English soccer’s League Cup. Paul the Octopus, World Cup Oracle, Dies in German Aquarium Paul the Octopus, who accurately predicted the result of every German soccer match as well as the final in this year’s World Cup in South Africa, has died.

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