WHY DID ENERGY PRICES FALL SHARPLY: Investors took Thursday's economic reports to mean that the economy might not grow as much as investors thought. That could hurt demand for oil and other fuels.
GOLD AND THE DOLLAR USUALLY TRADE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, BUT NOT THURSDAY: The link between gold and the dollar has diminished in recent weeks because investors fleeing the euro have been seeking safer investments. And gold and the dollar both have reputations for safety.
DID OTHER COMMODITIES DO WELL: Cotton continued to rise, hitting fresh two-year highs on concerns about supply.
