Dollar Falls After Fed Flags Currency's Gains as Drag on Economy

The dollar fell as minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed officials discussed how the strong U.S. currency was damping inflation and exports. The greenback slumped versus all but one of its 16 major peers as the release from the Sept. 16-17 gathering noted that the dollar has “strongly appreciated” against emerging-market counterparts and climbed versus currencies of commodity exporters and the main U.S. trading partners....

Crude Oil Surges Above $50 a Barrel for First Time Since July

Oil surged above $50 a barrel in New York for the first time since July on speculation that demand is picking up. West Texas Intermediate futures rose as much as 4.7 percent. A "new capital discipline" in the industry will allow demand to catch up with supplies, boosting prices, according to Gary Ross, founder and chairman of PIRA Energy Group. Demand will climb more this year than previously projected amid cheaper fuel prices, OPEC Secretary-General...

Asian Futures Signal More Stock Gains to Come With Oil Near $50

Asian index futures foreshadowed another day of gains for the region’s stocks, with global equities on track for their best week since 2012 amid a bounce back in oil. No such luck for the dollar, which is languishing near a three-week low versus major peers after minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting showed officials discussed how the currency’s strength was damping inflation and that growing global risks spurred them to stand...

U.S. Stocks Advance Amid Fed Minutes as Commodity Shares Rally

U.S stocks rose as Federal Reserve minutes reflected caution over raising interest rates even as the economy improves, further boosting commodity producers. The minutes kept expectations for higher rates pushed into next year, weakening the dollar and boosting energy, raw-material and industrial companies amid speculation that a weaker U.S. currency will lift their profits. Those three industry groups rallied at least 1.4 percent Thursday. The ...

European Stocks Advance on Day of Ups and Downs as Autos Climb

On a day when Europe’s equity benchmark swung between gains and losses at least 25 times, an advance in carmakers helped it close higher. Auto-related shares posted the best performance of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index, rising for a fourth day. Daimler AG added 1.2 percent. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV rose 3.9 percent after reaching a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers union in the U.S. to avert...