London's blue chip FTSE 100 index is dragged lower by ailing commodities stocks, falling 0.3% to 6,371. Asian exchanges traded lower overnight with ongoing economic concerns on China and a potential December US interest rate hike weighing on Hong Kong in particular. The Hang Seng index fell 1.9%. Sterling weakness continues into the end of the week. Trading at $1.505 it is around 2 cents...

The sharp decline in the oil price since June has put commodities back on the mainstream news agenda as investors speculate where energy, metal and food prices are headed next. The direction of oil, copper, wheat and other commodities are hugely relevant to investors as they are key raw materials for companies around the world, not to mention a major influence on the cost of everyday...

Industrial Metals & Mining has been the worst performing FTSE All-Share sector for two consecutive years after a slowdown in global economic activity and a sharp drop in the price of industrial commodities. We now rate the sector as a 'speculative buy' in the belief depressed share prices are bottoming out and there are small signs of economic strength in many parts of the world.December's...