Commodities volatile on European air crisis

The commodity markets were roiled this week as severe disruption to global air travel impacted supply and demand for raw materials such as oil and metals, analysts said.
A volcanic eruption in Iceland spewed ash across Europe, forcing airplanes from the skies for safety reasons, with the industry badly hit and only getting back on its feet by Friday.
By late Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Texas light sweet crude for delivery in June eased to 83.96 dollars from 84.08 dollars last week.
On London's IntercontinentalExchange, Brent North Sea crude for June delivery slipped to 86.22 dollars compared with 86.53 dollars for the May-expired contract a week earlier.
Palladium prices hit the highest level in more than two years.
Gold meanwhile failed to hold on to gains made at the start of the week when the dollar had slid in reaction to the Goldman Sachs fraud charges.
By late Friday on the London Bullion Market, gold dropped to 1,139.50 dollars an ounce from 1,151.50 dollars the previous week.
Silver slid to 17.89 dollars dollars an ounce from 18.34 dollars.
On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum rose to 1,725 dollars an ounce from 1,708 dollars.
Palladium jumped to 555 dollars an ounce from 532 dollars.
Base metals prices fell a week after striking their highest levels for more than one year.
By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months fell to 7,740 dollars a tonne from 7,885 dollars a week earlier.
Three-month aluminium dropped to 2,312 dollars a tonne from 2,474 dollars.
Three-month lead slid to 2,300 dollars a tonne from 2,320 dollars.
Soya prices rose while maize fell as investors tracked strong demand from China and US weather conditions.
By Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade, maize for delivery in July dropped to 3.68 dollars a bushel from 3.74 dollars the previous week.
July-dated soyabean meal -- used in animal feed -- climbed to 10.14 dollars from 9.99 dollars.
Wheat for July rose to 5.09 dollars a bushel from 5.02 dollars.
Coffee prices fell for a second week running.
By Friday on LIFFE, Robusta for delivery in July dropped to 1,325 dollars a tonne from 1,385 dollars the previous week.
On the NYBOT, Arabica for July dipped to 131.60 US cents a pound from 132.10 cents.
Sugar prices retreated.
By Friday on the New York Board of Trade (NYBOT), the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in July fell to 16.17 US cents a pound compared with 17.20 cents the previous week.
On LIFFE, London's futures exchange, the price of a tonne of white sugar for August dropped to 488.50 from 503.70 pounds for the May-expired contract.
Malaysian rubber prices nudged higher on rising concerns over tight supplies globally and a decline in production in Thailand.
The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 edged up to 334.45 US cents a kilo from 334.35 cents last week.