Oct. 17 (MF Global) -- This market comment was written at 8:05 a.m. on October 14th, US east coast time...

Metals fell sharply yesterday, as the complex was never able to shake off the impact of the soft Chinese trade numbers. Trade figures also came out of the US, showing the August deficit narrowing marginally, although the gap with China widened to a record high. Other markets finished lower as well, with crude oil seeing its first decline in six sessions, while US stocks finished mixed, erasing earlier losses.