Oil Extends Decline as U.S. Crude Stockpiles Seen Expanding Glut

Oil fell for a second day before U.S. government data forecast to show crude stockpiles in the world™s biggest consumer expanded to a record level. Futures slid as much as 3.7 percent in New York. Crude supplies probably rose by 3 million barrels to 420.9 million through Feb. 13, according to a Bloomberg News survey before a report Thursday from the Energy Information Administration. That would be the highest in weekly records compiled...

Dollar Holds Decline as Fed Minutes Show No Hurry to Raise Rates

The dollar remained weaker versus the yen after minutes Wednesday from the Federal Reserve™s January meeting showed policy makers argued for keeping interest rates near record lows longer due to risks facing the economy. The greenback fell against the majority of its Group-of-10 peers after committee members pointed to the dollar™s strength, international flash points from Greece to Ukraine, and slow wage growth as weakening the case...

Nikkei 225 Heads for 15-Year High as Japan’s Megabanks Rise

Japan stocks rose, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average heading for the highest close in 15 years, as the biggest banks jumped and Trend Micro Inc. and Sony Corp. gained. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan™s largest lender, climbed 2.5 percent to be the biggest support to the Topix Index as banks led gains among industry groups. Anti-virus software maker Trend Micro added 5.9 percent, the strongest support to the Nikkei 225, after...

S&P 500 Erases Loss as Decline in Energy Overshadows Fed Minutes

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index erased a loss as speculation that the Federal Reserve will keep rates lower for longer overshadowed a drop in energy shares. The S&P 500 slipped less than 1 point to 2,099.65 at 4 p.m. in New York, after losing as much as 0.4 percent. Energy companies in the benchmark index fell 1.5 percent as crude oil declined 2.6 percent from a seven-week high. Equities pared losses as minutes from the Fed™s...

U.S. Stocks Fall Amid Economic Data Before January Fed Minutes

U.S. stocks fell, after the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rose to a record Tuesday, as factory production rose less than forecast before the release of minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting. S&P 500 slipped 0.2 percent to 2,096.28 at 12:04 p.m. in New York, after the benchmark index closed at a record Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 30.97 points, or...