Gold slips on renewed bets for U.S. rate hike in June

Gold retreated for a third session in a row on Thursday after comments from Federal Reserve officials and minutes of the U.S. central bank's meeting last month suggested that a rate increase in June remained on the cards despite recent weak data.    Spot gold was off 0.1 percent at $1,201 an ounce by 0022 GMT. Bullion hit a session low of $1,197.45 on Wednesday after two Fed officials said the U.S. central bank could still increase...

Oil Trades Near Week Low as U.S. Supplies Surge Most in 14 Years

Oil traded near the lowest price in almost a week after U.S. crude inventories increased the most in 14 years, expanding further from a record. Futures rose as much as 1.3 percent in New York, trimming a 6.6 percent drop on Wednesday. Stockpiles surged by 10.95 million barrels last week, the biggest volume gain since March 2001, the Energy Information Administration reported. The global market will need “some time” to re-balance, according...

Asian Stocks Fluctuate Near Seven-Year High; Energy Shares Drop

Asian stocks fluctuated, with the benchmark index trading near its highest level since 2008. Health-care companies gained and energy explorers fell.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.1 percent to 150.96 as of 9:18 a.m. in Tokyo. The regional benchmark index climbed yesterday to its highest since June 2008 as Chinese shares listed in Hong Kong surged. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.3 percent after...

Japan Stocks Rise a Third Day After Fed Minutes Show Rate Split

Japanese stocks rose for a third day after Federal Reserve minutes from its latest meeting showed officials were split on the timing for raising U.S. interest rates.The Topix index climbed 0.3 percent to 1,592.55 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with all but six of its 33 industry groups rising. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.3 percent to 19,850.30.The minutes showed Fed policy makers...

U.S. Stocks Advance as Fed Minutes Show Split Views on Rates

U.S. stocks rose as minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed officials were split on the timing for raising interest rates. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index jumped after Mylan NV offered to buy Perrigo Co. for $28.9 billion. Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. fell at least 1.7 percent as oil retreated after data showed crude inventories grew more than expected last week. Alcoa Inc. added 1.9 percent before reporting earnings...