Oil Trades Near 6-Year Low as U.S. Supplies Seen Worsening Glut

Oil traded near the lowest price since March 2009 before U.S. government data forecast to show that crude stockpiles in the world’s biggest consumer expanded further from a record high. Futures were little changed in New York after falling 2.1 percent on Monday. Crude inventories probably gained by 3.3 million barrels to 452.2 million last week, according to a Bloomberg News survey before an Energy Information Administration report....

Gold Holds Near Three-Month Low on Rates as Fed Reserve Meets

Gold held near a three-month low as investors weighed the outlook for higher U.S. interest rates before the Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting. Bullion for immediate delivery traded at $1,156.23 an ounce by 8:09 a.m. in Singapore from $1,154.81 on Monday, according to Bloomberg generic pricing. The precious metal slumped to $1,147.72 on March 11, the lowest level since...

Japan Stocks Rise Before BOJ, Follow U.S. Equities Higher on Fed

Japanese stocks rose ahead of a central bank policy statement in Tokyo, following U.S. equities higher as investors weighed the timing of U.S. interest-rate increases after lower-than-forecast economic data. The Topix index added 0.7 percent to 1,569.15 as of 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo, with all of its 33 industry groups rising. The Nikkei 225 gained 0.9 percent to 19,418.20, trading near a 15-year high. The Bank of Japan reports on monetary...

Asia Stocks Rise as U.S. Factory Data Damp Rate-Rise Speculation

Asian stocks rose, after a rebound in U.S. equities, as weak economic data eased speculation the Federal Reserve will bring forward plans to raise interest rates. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.4 percent to 144.40 as of 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo. Factory production in the U.S. declined in February for a third straight month, data showed Monday, while confidence among U.S. homebuilders unexpectedly retreated this month to an eight-month...

S&P 500 Rises Most in Five Weeks Amid Corporate Deals, Data

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose the most since Feb. 3, amid corporate deals and as investors weighed the timing of interest-rate increases after lower-than-forecast economic data. Health-care companies in the S&P 500 Index advanced 2.2 percent as Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. accepted a sweetened, $11.1 billion takeover offer from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International...