Dollar Climbs Toward 10-Year High on Fed Outlook; Ruble Drops

The dollar headed for the highest level in more than a decade with the Federal Reserve the only central bank among developed nations considering raising interest rates this year as global rivals rush to ease policy. The U.S. currency gained versus most major peers as the fewest Americans in almost 15 years filed applications for unemployment benefits. The ruble dropped as European Union officials discussed tightening sanctions against...

Gold Tumbles With Silver by Most Since 2013 After U.S. Jobs Gain

Gold futures fell the most in 13 months and silver posted the biggest plunge since June 2013 as signs of a robust U.S. labor market cut demand for haven assets. The two most-traded gold options were bets on further declines, and prices for the contracts doubled. Aggregate futures trading was 79 percent above the 100-day average for this time of day, with silver 70 percent higher,...

Asian Stocks Advance to Extend First Monthly Gain Since October

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index extending its firstly monthly gain since October, as Japanese shares climbed after the yen weakened against the dollar on a drop in U.S. jobless claims. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.3 percent to 140.91 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo. The gauge has risen 2.2 percent in January, led by a surge in Hong Kong shares. The European Central Bank unveiled a plan this month to join the Bank...

Japanese Stocks Head for Weekly Gain as Yen Weakens on U.S. Data

Japanese stocks rose, with the Topix index heading for a second weekly gain, after the yen weakened as U.S. jobs data and earnings boosted confidence in the outlook for the world™s biggest economy. The Topix added 0.9 percent to 1,426.05 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, headed for gains of 1.6 percent this week and 1.3 percent in January. All of its 33 industry groups advanced. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 1 percent to 17,778.26. The...

Japan Inflation Slows More Than Forecast in Challenge to Kuroda

Japan™s inflation rate slowed more than forecast in December, adding to central bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda™s challenges in reflating the world™s third-biggest economy. Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.5 percent from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said Friday in Tokyo. That was less than the median projection of 2.6 percent in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Stripped of the effect of sales-tax increase last April,...

Gold pressured as Fed reiterates rate hike bias

Gold prices fell on Wednesday as the U.S. central bank reiterated its commitment to raising interest rates some time in the latter part of the year. Gold for February delivery dropped $5.80, or 0.5%, to settle $1,285.90 an ounce but the precious metal pared some of its earlier losses after the Federal Reserve™s policy statement. March silver futures recovered to close flat at...

Dollar Rises as Central Banks Diverge After Singapore Eases

The dollar rose to almost the highest in a decade with the Federal Reserve seen continuing to move toward raising interest rates after Singapore became the latest nation to ease monetary policy, highlighting the diverging paths of global central banks. The greenback advanced versus the euro amid plunging Greek markets as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stood by pledges to renegotiate...

U.S. Stocks Decline as Energy Slump, Fed Overshadow Apple Rally

U.S. stocks fell, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its biggest two-day loss in a year, as energy shares plunged and the Federal Reserve cited international risks to the American economy amid concerns about weakness in multinational earnings. Energy companies slumped 3.9 percent as a group after oil retreated. Apple Inc. climbed 5.7 percent after reporting a record $18...

U.S. Stocks Advance as Apple, Yahoo Spur Tech Rally Before Fed

U.S. stocks rose, with the Nasdaq 100 Index rebounding from its biggest drop since April, as Apple Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. rallied while investors awaited a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates. The Nasdaq 100 added 1.5 percent at 9:32 a.m. in New York, after a 1.2 percent drop Tuesday. The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index increased 0.6 percent to 2,041.93. Disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. and Microsoft Corp. weighed on...

Hong Kong Share end 0.22% Higher

Hong Kong shares edged up 0.22 percent Wednesday, reversing morning losses as investors brushed off a heavy sell-off on Wall Street that was fuelled by weak US data and disappointing corporate reports.The benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 54.53 points to 24,861.81 on turnover of HK$80.37 billion (US$10.37 billion).But in mainland China the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.41 percent, or 47.22 points, to 3,305.74 on turnover of 341.6...

Gold Futures Climb After U.S. Durable Goods Orders Decline

Gold futures climbed as a slump in orders for U.S. durable goods signaled that weaker foreign economies are weighing on American expansion, boosting demand for haven assets. Demand for all durable goods -- items meant to last at least three years -- declined 3.4 percent, the worst performance since August, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Slowing expansion may prompt the Federal Reserve to hold off on raising interest rates. Policy...

Dollar Slides on Signs of Slowing Economic Growth; Ruble Gains

The dollar declined from the highest level on record after U.S. durable-goods orders unexpectedly decreased in December as Federal Reserve policy makers began a two-day meeting in Washington. The U.S. currency fell against most major counterparts as home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace in the year ended in November, another report showed on Tuesday. The euro rose after a Swiss National Bank official said it remained ready...

U.S. Shares Drop as Microsoft to Caterpillar Results Disappoint

U.S. shares tumbled as a drop in durable-goods orders and disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. to Microsoft Corp. heightened concern about the economy™s strength. Technology shares in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index plunged 3.3 percent for the biggest drop since November 2011. Microsoft lost 9.3 percent, the most in 18 months, as software-license sales to businesses...

Dow Drops Most Since October as Microsoft to Caterpillar Plunge

U.S. stocks tumbled, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average poised for its worst day since October, as a drop in durable-goods orders and disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. to Microsoft Corp. heightened concern about the economy™s strength. Technology shares in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index had the biggest drop in more than three year. Microsoft lost 9 percent as software-license sales to businesses were below forecasts....

European Stocks Fall as Siemens Disappoints, Greek Banks Slide

European stocks declined from a seven-year high, snapping their longest winning streak since April, as Siemens AG and Royal Philips NV posted disappointing earnings, and Greek stocks tumbled. Siemens slid 3 percent, contributing the most to a drop in a gauge of industrial companies, after Europe™s largest engineering firm reported a decline in first-quarter profit. Philips lost 5.9 percent after saying it is behind on its 2016 financial ...

Euro Up From 11-Year Low on Fading Greek Exit Odds; Ruble Drops

The euro climbed from an 11-year low amid speculation the victorious Syriza party in Greek elections will pursue its anti-austerity agenda without forcing an exit from the currency bloc. The Russian ruble closed at the weakest level on record after Standard & Poor™s cut the nation™s credit rating to junk. The dollar gained versus the yen with the Federal Reserve forecast to...

Gold Falls Most This Year as Euro Rebound Cuts Demand

Gold futures fell the most this year on speculation that an election victory in Greece by the anti-austerity political party won™t result in the country™s exit from the euro zone, crimping demand for haven assets. The euro rebounded from an 11-year low against the dollar as Greek Prime Minister-elect Alexis Tsipras pledged to keep the nation within the single currency area. Gold rose for three straight weeks partly as Europe™s flagging...

Asian Futures Pace U.S. Gains as Euro Holds Jump; Bonds Decline

Asian index futures advanced with U.S. stocks, while the euro held gains versus major peers amid optimism the actions of Greece™s new government won™t force the nation™s exit from the currency bloc. Australian bonds fell. Futures on Japan™s Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbed more than 1 percent in Osaka and Chicago, as contracts on indexes from Sydney to Seoul increased. The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index added 0.3 percent in New York,...

S&P 500 Advances Amid Greek Vote, Deals as Energy Shares Gain

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rose, following its first weekly advance this year, as gains in energy companies overshadowed a drop in technology shares as investors considered possible fallout from Greek elections. The S&P 500 added 0.3 percent to 2,056.90 at 4 p.m. in New York, extending gains in the final 30 minutes of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed...

Pasca Pemilu Yunani, Bursa AS Berfluktuasi

Saham-saham AS berfluktuasi, mengikuti penguatan mingguan pertama tahun ini untuk indeks S&P 500, setelah gain dalam perusahaan-perusahaan energi mengimbangi penurunan pada saham-saham teknologi akibat investor menganggap kemungkinan terjadi penurunan dari pemilu Yunani. Indeks S&P 500 naik 0,1% menjadi 2,054.06 pada pukul 12:16 siang di New York. Indeks Dow Jones Industrial Average kehilangan 1,68 poin, atau kurang dari 0,1%,...

U.S. Stocks Retreat as Earnings Results Offset ECB Stimulus Plan

U.S. stocks fell, trimming the first weekly gain of 2015, as weaker-than-forecast results at companies from United Parcel Service Inc. to Kimberly-Clark Corp. offset confidence that central banks will support global growth. UPS slumped 9.9 percent as it said preliminary 2014 earnings were lower than previously forecast. Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and State Street Corp. led financial shares lower after both said the falling euro hurt...

Japan Stocks Fall After Weekly Gain as Yen Climbs on Greek Vote

Japanese stocks fell, after the Topix index posted its first weekly advance in 2015, as the yen gained amid official projections showing Greece™s anti-austerity Syriza party may get close to winning a majority. The Topix slid 1 percent to 1,388.85 as of 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo after increasing 2.9 percent last week. All 33 industry groups retreated. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 1.2 percent to 17,300.64. The yen added 0.3 percent...

Saham Asia Jatuh Terkait Penguatan Yen Vs Euro Serta Pemilu Yunani

Saham Asia jatuh karena yen menguat ke level tertinggi sejak September 2013 terhadap euro terkait proyeksi partai politik yang berkomitmen untuk renegosiasi utang Yunani yang akan memenangkan cukup suara untuk mendekati suara mayoritas. Indeks MSCI Asia Pacific turun 0,4% menjadi 140,59 pada 09:01 pagi di Tokyo, setelah naik ke level tertinggi dua bulan pada hari Jumat pekan lalu. Pemimpin partai Syriza Alexis Tsipras mengatakan era...

Euro Falls to 11-Year Low as Syriza Wins Greek Poll

The euro weakened to an 11-year low against the dollar after Syriza, the party committed to renegotiating Greece™s debt obligations, won a general election. The 19-nation currency fell for a third day versus the greenback, after tumbling last week on the European Central Bank™s plan to pump 1.1 trillion euros ($1.23 trillion) into the economy to stoke inflation. The yen strengthened versus 13 of its 16 major counterparts amid demand...

Oil Slides to Near 6-Year Low as U.S. Supply Seen Worsening Glut

Oil declined to the lowest level in almost six years as data showed U.S. crude inventories in December surged to the highest level for the month since 1930, adding to signs a global supply glut may persist. Futures slid as much as 2.7 percent in New York and 1.9 percent in London. Crude stockpiles in the U.S., the world™s biggest oil consumer, rose 7.4 percent from last year to end December at 383.5 million barrels, the American Petroleum...

Euro Falls to 11-Year Low as ECB Expands Bond-Buying; Real Gains

The euro dropped to an 11-year low as the European Central Bank expanded its bond-buying program to include government bonds, a policy that tends to debase the currency. The euro fell 2.1 percent to $1.1368 at 3:25 p.m. in New York and touched $1.1363, the weakest level since September 2003. The last time the euro and dollar traded one for one was in 2002. The shared currency...

Gold Closes Above $1,300 After ECB Announces Stimulus Measures

Gold futures settled above $1,300 an ounce for the first time since August after the European Central Bank expanded stimulus measures, boosting demand for the metal as a store of value. Gold futures for February delivery rose 0.5 percent to settle at $1,300.70 an ounce at 1:42 p.m. on the Comex in New York. Aggregate trading was 51 percent more than the 100-day average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Bullion priced in euros...

Japan Stocks Head for First Weekly Gain in 2015 on ECB Stimulus

Japanese shares rose, with the Topix index heading for its first weekly gain this year, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi expanded stimulus.The Topix advanced 1 percent to 1,403.88 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, heading for a weekly jump of 2.9 percent as all but one of its 33 industry groups rose. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 1.1 percent to 17,516.43, on course...

S&P 500 Erases Loss for Year on Earnings, ECB Stimulus Program

U.S. stocks rallied for a fourth day, erasing losses for the year in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index, as the European Central Bank unveiled an expanded stimulus plan and banks and transportation companies surged amid better-than-forecast earnings. KeyCorp led gains among banks after fourth-quarter results topped analyst estimates. Southwest Airlines Co. jumped 8.4 percent...

U.S. Stocks Advance on Earnings as ECB Expands Stimulus Program

U.S. stocks rose, after a three-day rally in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index, as regional banks and transportation companies posted better-than-forecast earnings and the European Central Bank unveiled an expanded stimulus plan. KeyCorp led gains among regional banks after fourth-quarter results topped analyst estimates. Southwest Airlines Co. jumped 6.2 percent as profit rose 71 percent on lower jet fuel prices. Union Pacific Corp....

Oil Declines as Iraq Signals Output Gain to Offset Price Plunge

Oil fell as Iraq said it needs to boost crude output and exports to compensate for collapsing prices, exacerbating a global supply glut.Futures declined as much as 1 percent in New York. Iraq has lost about 50 percent of its revenues because of the price decrease, Rowsch Nuri Shaways, the deputy prime minister of OPEC™s second-biggest producer, said in Davos, Switzerland. U.S. crude supplies probably expanded a second week through Jan....

Gold loses steam above $1,300 as ECB stimulus measures loom

Gold lost some of its earlier momentum to snap a seven-day winning streak Wednesday, unable to defend its first foray above $1,300 an ounce since August. Gold for February delivery relinquished its earlier high to dip 50 cents to settle at $1,293.70 an ounce after settling at its highest price in five months. Despite Wednesday™s retreat, the precious metal is still up about 9% year to date. March silver futures meanwhile, advanced 24...

Japan Stocks Swing as Insurers Drop, Communications Shares Rise

Japanese stocks swung between gains and losses as insurers fell and communication stocks rose amid speculation the European Central Bank will stimulate growth through asset purchases.The Topix slipped 0.1 percent to 1,388.76 as of 9:07 a.m. after rising less than 0.1 percent. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.2 percent to 17,312.The ECB announces it policy decision later today. An Executive Board proposal foresees asset purchases of...

Asian Stocks Fall Before European Central Bank Stimulus Decision

Asian stocks fell even amid speculation the European Central Bank will boost stimulus through a sovereign-bond purchase program under the quantitative-easing strategy. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.1 percent to 134.46 as of 9:05 a.m. in Tokyo before markets open in China and Hong Kong. An ECB Executive Board proposal calls for as much as $1.3 trillion in asset purchases through the end of 2016, according to two euro-area central-bank...

U.S. Stocks Advance for Third Day Amid Earnings, ECB Speculation

U.S. stocks rose for a third day as energy shares rallied and speculation grew that the European Central Bank will provide more stimulus. Netflix Inc. jumped 17 percent as it posted subscriber growth that beat projections and said it will complete its global expansion within two years. Energy companies climbed 1.8 percent for a third day of gains. International Business Machines Corp. slipped 3.1 percent after its earnings forecast...

Gold Futures Approach $1,300 to Post Longest Rally in 11 Months

Gold futures approached $1,300 an ounce to post the longest rally in 11 months on speculation that the European Central Bank will boost economic stimulus, increasing demand for the precious metal as a haven. Assets in the SPDR Gold Trust, the biggest exchange-traded product backed by the metal, last week rose 3.3 percent, the most since May 2010. Futures posted the biggest weekly gain in 18 months after the Swiss central bank unexpectedly...

Dollar at Almost 10-Year High on Diverging Policy; Loonie Drops

A gauge of the dollar approached a 10-year high on speculation the U.S. is moving toward raising interest rates as policy makers in Europe and Japan meet to discuss further measures to bolster their stagnant economies. The U.S. currency climbed for a third day versus the yen as the Japanese central bank considers expanded monetary easing at a policy meeting ending tomorrow. The euro was at almost the lowest level in 11 years before...

U.S. Stocks Advance as Tech Rally Offsets Global Growth Concern

U.S. stocks rose, with the Nasdaq 100 Index rallying as gains from Apple Inc. to Netflix Inc. helped offset concerns that global growth is slowing. Yahoo! Inc., Micron Technology Inc. and Apple jumped more than 2.3 percent to lead technology shares. Netflix surged 3.4 percent before reporting results. Delta Air Lines Inc. climbed 7.3 percent after earnings beat projections. Johnson...

U.S. Stocks Fall on Weaker Outlook for Earnings, Global Growth

U.S. stocks fell as results at companies from Morgan Stanley to Johnson & Johnson disappointed investors and the International Monetary Fund lowered its outlook for global growth. Johnson & Johnson tumbled 3.4 percent after forecasting lower earnings in 2015 as competition cuts into revenue for some of its best-selling drugs. Morgan Stanley slipped 1.5 percent after profit...

Europe Stock Gain Fourth Day to Extend Highest Level Since 2008

European stocks advanced for a fourth day, extending their highest level in seven years, amid speculation that the European Central Bank will announce a plan for quantitative easing this week. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.8 percent to 355.96 at the close of trading, after earlier rising as much as 1.2 percent. Banks and miners led gains among 19 industry groups. The benchmark gauge has rallied 4.8 percent in the four days since...

Gold slips from four-month high, haven appeal lends support

Gold eased from four-month highs on Monday as investors cashed in some of last week's hefty gains, though prices were still supported by wider market volatility that boosted the metal's appeal as a haven from risk. A market rout after Switzerland unexpectedly abandoned a cap on the franc last week triggered strong bids for gold, often seen as an alternative to risky assets, sending prices to their highest since September at $1,281.50. Spot ...

Gold Trades Above Platinum as Bullion ETPs Gain on Haven Demand

Gold traded at the biggest premium to platinum since April 2013 as bullion was near a four-month high amid demand for a haven. An ounce of gold bought as many as 1.012 ounces of platinum in London today, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The ratio had mostly held below 1 since April 2013. Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded products jumped 26.2 metric tons in the two days through Jan. 16, the biggest advance since 2011. Bullion climbed...