Gold Has Longest Slump in Six Years, Platinum Falls on Dollar

Gold headed for the longest slump in six years and platinum fell to a 67-month low as the dollar’s rally cut demand for precious metals as alternative assets. The greenback climbed to the highest in almost 12 years against a basket of six currencies on speculation that the Federal Reserve is getting closer to raising interest rates, while the European Central Bank purchases debt....

Oil Drops for Second Day as Government Data Show Inventory Gain

Crude oil fell for a second day after the Energy Information Administration reported U.S. inventories rose last week.Crude supplies increased by 4.51 million barrels in the week ended March 6 to 448.9 million, the EIA, the Energy Department’s statistical arm, said. That’s the highest level since EIA weekly data started in 1982. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected an increase of 4.75 million.Oil is failing to sustain a rebound this...

U.S. Stocks Decline as Consumer, Technology Companies Retreat

U.S. stocks fell, after the biggest equities selloff in more than two months amid the surging dollar, as declines in consumer and technology companies offset banks’ rebound. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.2 percent to 2,040.42 at 4 p.m. in New York. The gauge slipped below its average price for the past 100 days. The dollar’s ascent to a 12-year high versus the euro sent American...

European Stocks Rise Most in Six Weeks as Exporters Gain on Euro

European stocks rose the most in more than six weeks as a weaker euro boosted exporters. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 1.5 percent to 395.48 at the close of trading. Automakers led gains as the single currency traded near a 12-year low and headed for a record quarterly drop. France’s CAC 40 Index and Germany’s DAX Index posted the biggest advances of 18 western-European markets. Euro-area ...

U.S. Stocks Fluctuate as Consumer Shares Offset Banks’ Rebound

U.S. stocks fluctuated, after the biggest equities selloff in more than two months amid the surging dollar, as declines in consumer companies offset banks’ rebound. Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. fell more than 4.5 percent amid reports of suspected bird flu in Arkansas. Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. added at least 1.6 percent after financial stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index Tuesday had their steepest...