Gold Swings Near Highest Level Since September Before ECB Meets

Gold fluctuated near a four-month high before European Central Bank policy makers meet to discuss introducing new stimulus as holdings in the largest exchange-traded product expanded the most since 2010.Bullion for immediate delivery rose and fell at least 0.2 percent, and traded 0.3 percent lower at $1,277.11 an ounce at 9:05 a.m. in Singapore, according to Bloomberg generic pricing. The metal earlier climbed to $1,283, the highest level...

Euro 1% From 11-Year Low Before ECB; Franc Holds Historic Rally

The euro was within 1 percent of an 11-year low against the dollar amid speculation the European Central Bank will announce additional stimulus when it meets this week. The shared currency is down this month against all major counterparts after the Swiss National Bank™s move to abandon the franc™s cap versus the euro spurred investor expectations the ECB will announce government bond purchases, also known as quantitative easing. The...

China Stocks Plunge on Margin Accounts Halt; Aussie Miners Rise

Mainland Chinese shares plunged after three of the nation™s biggest brokerages were stopped from adding margin-trading accounts. Australian mining shares rose after U.S. oil capped its first weekly advance since November and copper climbed in London.The Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 4.9 percent by 10:34 a.m. in Tokyo, as brokerages plummeted. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world™s biggest mining company, was the biggest support to the MSCI Asia...

China’s Stock-Index Futures Plunge on Margin-Trading Suspensions

China™s stock-index futures tumbled after the nation™s securities regulator took measures to rein in margin trading at three of the nation™s biggest brokerages. Futures on the CSI 300 Index expiring in February, the most active contract, slumped 5.7 percent to 3,474.80 as of 9:18 a.m. local time. The regulator suspended Citic Securities Co., Haitong Securities Co. and Guotai Junan Securities Co. from adding margin-finance and securities...

Asia Stocks Rise After Oil Jumps, U.S. Consumer Confidence Grows

Asian stocks rose, led by materials companies, after oil rebounded and U.S. consumer confidence jumped to an 11-year high.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.6 percent to 138.20 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, before markets opened in China and Hong Kong. Futures on the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index slid 0.1 percent after the gauge climbed 1.3 percent on Friday as energy shares rallied with Brent crude surging the most in two years. U.S. markets...