The commodities market is struggling for direction.

Prices for metals, energy and agriculture are closing in scattered directions.

Gold is flat and silver up, while industrial metals are down. Wheat and corn are down, while soybeans are up. And oil prices are down, but only after wavering throughout the day.

The fall in copper, palladium and platinum is likely due to a disappointing report about the manufacturing sector. Oil prices moved up early because of fears about Tropical Storm Isaac, but fell after a trade journal reported that Western countries might release more oil reserves.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested the Fed could get more involved in the economy, which would usually send gold higher. Gold had hit a four-month high Thursday.