Dollar Holds Gain as Higher Yields Drive Caution Before Fed Meet

The dollar held on to gains that boosted it from a two-week low, as traders remained cautious before Federal Reserve officials begin a two-day meeting that’s divided the market on prospects for higher interest rates. A gauge of the greenback climbed the most in more than a week Tuesday as Treasuries tumbled, lifting the two-year note yield to the highest since April 2011, after data showed U.S. retail sales gained. Federal Open Market...

Oil Climbs as WTI-Brent Spread the Narrowest in Eight Months

Oil rose as the difference between U.S. and global benchmark prices narrowed to the smallest in eight months amid rising North Sea deliveries and falling stockpiles at the largest U.S. storage hub. The spread between West Texas Intermediate and Brent closed at $2.04, the least since January. A narrowing spread signals that the global supply glut is growing while there may be relative tightening in parts of the U.S. Stockpiles at Cushing,...

Asian Stocks Follow U.S. Equities Higher as Consumer Shares Gain

Asian stocks rose, following a rally in U.S. equities, as investors sifted through the latest data on the world’s biggest economy before the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.6 percent to 127.35 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with consumer and material shares leading gains. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.3 percent on Tuesday as a report showed retail sales climbed for a second...

Japanese Topix Advances First Time in Three Days Ahead of Fed

Japanese stocks rose, following U.S. equities higher, as investors speculated that the Federal Reserve will refrain from raising U.S. interest rates this week. The Topix index added 1.1 percent to 1,477.91 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with all but two of its 33 industry groups gaining. It is headed for its first advance this week. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 1.1 percent to 18,230.34. The Fed announces its interest rate review...

U.S. Shares Advance Amid Economic Data Before Fed Rate Meeting

U.S. shares rallied, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index closing at its highest level in more than two weeks, as retail sales data showed a resilient consumer before the Federal Reserve decides on Thursday whether to raise interest rates. The S&P 500 gained 1.3 percent to 1,978.11 at 4 p.m. in New York, its highest since Aug. 28. A report today showed retail sales climbed for a second straight month, a sign consumers may be...