Dollar Falls Most in Three Weeks as Retail Sales Trail Forecast

The dollar fell the most in three weeks after retail sales gained less than forecast last month, fueling speculation the Federal Reserve is in no hurry to start raising interest rates. The greenback snapped a six-day rally against the euro as a less-robust rebound in the consumer sector combined with below-forecast jobs growth to add to concern the slowdown in economic growth may reflect more than the harsh U.S. winter season. The U.S....

Gold Futures Drop to Two-Week Low on Fed Interest-Rate Outlook

Gold futures fell to the lowest in almost two weeks on speculation that a smaller-than-expected gain in U.S. retail sales won’t be enough to keep the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates this year. Purchases at U.S. retailers increased 0.9 percent, the first gain in four months, after a 0.5 percent drop in February, government figures showed Tuesday. The median forecast of 87 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 1.1...

U.S. Stocks Rise as Energy Rally Overshadows Semiconductor Slump

U.S. stocks rose, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index near its average price for the past 50 days, as a rally in energy companies and oil overshadowed semiconductor declines before Intel Corp. results. The S&P 500 gained 0.2 percent to 2,096.11 at 4 p.m. in New York. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.2 percent. Sales at U.S. retailers rose less than forecast in March...

U.S. Shares Fluctuate Amid Retail Sales Data as Energy Rallies

U.S. stocks fluctuated as weaker-than-forecast retail sales added to signs of slowing growth, while energy shares rallied with the price of crude. JPMorgan gained 1.7 percent after reporting quarterly profit that beat analysts’ estimates. Chevron Corp. climbed 1.8 percent as oil rose for a fourth day. Google Inc. lost 1.3 percent while Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. declined. Norfolk Southern Corp. fell 5.6 percent after saying...

European Stocks Decline as Nokia, Banks Lead Stoxx 600 Lower

European stocks retreated from a record, snapping a five-day advance, as Nokia Oyj and banks declined. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.5 percent to 411.7 at the close of trading, paring earlier losses of as much as 0.8 percent. Nokia slid 3.6 percent after confirming talks to buy Alcatel-Lucent SA, which jumped 16 percent. Banco Santander SA and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA dragged bank stocks to the biggest loss on the Stoxx 600. Rio Tinto...