LONDON, Sept 20 (AFP) : Oil prices endured a volatile week and metals futures fell as the dollar strengthened and Chinese economic data disappointed markets.
OIL: World oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude recovering from a two-year low point forged against a backdrop of solid supplies and dampening demand growth.
European benchmark Brent began the week by sliding to $96.21 a barrel, which was the lowest level since July 2012.
Oil prices however rebounded sharply on Tuesday after the head of OPEC indicated that the crude producers' cartel could cut its production target for 2015.
The greenback rose after the Federal Reserve stuck to its timetable on hiking US interest rates but indicated they could eventually rise more sharply than initially envisaged.
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold struck an eight-month low and silver a four-year trough as the dollar gained strength.
BASE METALS: Base or industrial metal prices fell across the board for a second week running.
China reported that its industrial production stuttered in August, adding to concerns about weakening growth in the world's number two economy even after the Chinese government's stimulus measures.
COCOA: Prices rebounded after recent losses on worries that the Ebola virus outbreak could hit cocoa output in west Africa.
By Friday on LIFFE, London's futures exchange, cocoa for delivery in December grew to £2,069 a tonne from £1,972 a week earlier.
SUGAR: Futures recovered from multi-year lows in London, while New York futures hit a fresh four-year trough of 13.32 US cents a pound against a backdrop of large supplies of the commodity.
RUBBER: Kuala Lumpur prices eased.
The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 ended at 151.25 US cents a kilo on Friday, down slightly from the previous week's 152.15 cents.
