51.   Meanwhile, traders awaited a U.S. report on employment amid expectations it will show the economy growing without accelerating inflation.

52.   Meanwhile, traders awaited a USDA report of harvest progress, which will be released after markets close today.

53.   Meanwhile, traders were awaiting corn and soybean crop estimates from analysts ahead of an upcoming U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly crop report.

54.   Oil traders awaited a report by the American Petroleum Institute on U.S. inventories and production, to be issued after markets close.

55.   Oil traders are awaiting those details as well, analysts said, since they could signal whether world supplies could increase.

56.   On other markets, corn and soybeans were little changed, as traders awaited a government crop report Friday.

57.   Oil producers buoyed the market as traders awaited the inventory report of the American Petroleum Institute.

58.   Oil traders are awaiting those details as well, since they could signal whether world supplies could increase, analysts said.

59.   Philippine stocks were mixed as traders awaited the decision of the U.S. Federal Reserve on whether to raise interest rates to cool the American economy.

60.   Palladium and platinum fell as traders await the first exports of the year from Russia, which would help alleviate a supply shortage.