Copper may rise almost 10 percent to as much as $8,000 a metric ton if it climbs above May’s high of $7,480, according to technical analysis by Marex Spectron Group.

The contract for delivery in October on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange gained 0.6 percent to settle at 289.5 yen a kilogram ($2,823 a metric ton), the highest level at the close since May 13. Futures pared this year’s loss to 4.3 percent.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia will be exporting huge volumes of toluene to the US in May and June, easing the long supply in the region, which may curb the recent fall in prices, market sources said on Friday.

Tracking a weak global trend, copper prices fell marginally by 0.10% to Rs 401.25 per kg in futures trade today as speculators offloaded their positions.

ASIAN higher cost polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producers are facing the twin squeeze of increased electricity costs and very competitive exports from the US, according to an industry source the blog met with in Taipei, ahead of tomorrow and Friday's 2013 Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC).

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) prices trended higher in the first half of May gaining up to $50/tonne (€39/tonne) to the relief of suppliers though demand remains weak amid slow end-user orders, market participants said on Thursday.

Iron ore prices will remain strong into 2014 on sustained demand in China, the largest producer of steel, and as an increase in global supply takes longer than expected, according to Morgan Stanley.

Rubber fell from a two-month high, snapping a five-day winning streak, as a rebound in Japan’s currency against the dollar cut the appeal of yen-based futures.

Friday provided a good test of the blog's analysis that Japan's aggressive policy of devaluing the yen could result in major downward pressure on crude oil prices:

LONDON (ICIS)--The May European paraxylene (PX) contract has been fully confirmed at €1,120/tonne ($1,455/tonne), a rollover from the previous month, as the initial settlement received further support from players on Monday.