London crude oil surges as US stock positions touch three-year lows
Oil prices made a powerful debut in London on Wednesday as analysts cited news that US stocks dropped to near-three-year lows as proof Opec-supply curbs were biting deep ahead of winter.

Gold slips but stays above $300 in early trading
Gold retreated from two-year highs set in overnight Asian trading but remained above the key $300 an ounce level in early European business.

G'nut oil dips below Rs 400-mark; bullion shoots up
Groundnut oil dipped below Rs 400-level on the oil, oilseeds market on Wednesday. Castorseed and its oil too extended losses on news of widespread rain in the producing centers of Gujarat state.


  `Iraq oil industry fails in Y2K plan'
  Cooperative body turns down state demand to release free sugar