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,...