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...

Japanese Stocks Rise as Amid Yen Weakness Ahead of BOJ Meeting

Japanese stocks rose for a second day, led by steel producers, as the yen held losses against the dollar ahead of a policy meeting by the Bank of Japan.The Topix index added 0.3 percent to 1,376.67 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with all but four of its 33 industry groups rising. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.4 percent to 17,085.56. The yen weakened 0.1 percent to 117.71 per dollar. Futures on the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index slipped...

European Stocks Rise Third Day Amid Expectations of ECB Stimulus

European stocks advanced for a third day, extending their highest level since 2008, amid investor expectations the European Central Bank will announce a plan for quantitative easing this week. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.2 percent to 353.18 at the close of trading. The equity gauge pared gains in the final hour after earlier increasing as much as 0.7 percent. Stocks climbed to a 7-year high on Friday as rising oil producers outweighed...

European Stocks Little Changed Amid Expectations of ECB Stimulus

European stocks were little changed, paring earlier gains, amid investor expectations of an announcement on quantitative easing from the European Central Bank this week. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1 percent to 352.52 at 9:42 a.m. in London, after earlier gaining as much as 0.5 percent. Stocks climbed to a 7-year high on Friday as rising oil producers outweighed a slump in Swiss shares. Switzerland™s SMI Index rebounded...