Asian Stocks Set for Best Quarter in 3 Years Amid Global Rally

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark poised for the best quarter in three years as China moved to support economic growth, sending shares higher in the U.S. and Europe and the yen tumbling against the dollar. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.6 percent to 147.35 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, on course for a 6.9 percent quarterly advance, the most since the first three months...

Euro Weakens as Greek Debt Talks Cloud Outlook Amid Dollar Rally

The euro dropped after a two-week rally on signs Greece is still a long way from reaching a deal to unlock bailout funds.The shared currency resumed a slide that has seen it decline against most of its 16 major peers this year as the European Central Bank buys sovereign bonds to support growth and stave off deflation. That contrasts with the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is debating when to raise interest rates for the first time since 2006...

Gold Futures Slump Most in Three Weeks as Investor Demand Wanes

Gold fell the most in three weeks on signs that investors are balking at the metal even after a recent rally. Hedge funds cut their net-long position to the lowest since December 2013 and are holding the most short wagers since records begin in 2006, U.S. government data show. Global assets in exchange-traded products backed by gold dropped 56.6 metric tons in March, the most in...

U.S. Equities Extends Quarterly Advance Amid Corporate Mergers

U.S. stocks rose, extending a quarterly advance, amid corporate mergers and optimism central banks will support global growth. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.2 percent to 2,086.22 at 4 p.m. in New York, maintaining its longest streak of quarterly increases since 1998. With a 0.2 percent advance on Friday, the index completed its first back-to-back gain after 28 days, the longest drought since 1994. Federal Reserve Chair...

Europe Stocks Rise Most in Three Weeks on Central-Bank Optimism

European stocks rose the most in almost three weeks, poised for their best quarter since 2009, amid optimism central banks will continue to support global growth.The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 1.1 percent to 399.84 at the close of trading, extending gains after data showed pending sales of U.S. homes rose more than forecast in February. The benchmark gauge on Friday trimmed its worst weekly loss of the year, buoyed by health-care shares....