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 ...