Gold Declines to Four-Week Low as Fed Rate Outlook Hurts Demand

Gold retreated to the lowest level in four weeks on renewed concern that the Federal Reserve will increase U.S. interest rates in December, denting demand for the metal as a store of value. Bullion for immediate delivery fell as much as 0.7 percent to $1,134.39 an ounce, the lowest level since Oct. 5, and traded at $1,139.45 at 9:06 a.m. in Singapore, according to Bloomberg generic pricing. Prices dropped 1.9 percent last week, the...

Oil Slides as China Factory Gauge Signals Continued Contraction

Crude declined for the first time in four days as a measure of manufacturing activity signaled contraction for a third straight month in China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer. Futures retreated as much as 0.8 percent in New York after advancing 4.5 percent last week. China’s official purchasing managers index remained at 49.8 in October, the National Bureau of Statistics said Sunday, compared with an estimate of 50, the line...

Asia Stocks Fall on China Factory Data as Industrial Shares Drop

Asian stocks dropped, after their best month since May 2009, as industrial companies led losses following data signaling a contraction in Chinese manufacturing. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.5 percent to 133.77 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo. The measure rallied 8.6 percent in October as China cut interest rates and the European Central Bank hinted at potential extra stimulus, while U.S. and Japanese policy makers kept their monetary...

Japan Stocks Fall After China Factory Gauge Signals Contraction

Japanese stocks fell, after the Topix index posted its steepest monthly gain since April 2013, as a China factory gauge signaled a third month of contraction. Non-ferrous metal producers led declines. The Topix retreated 1.2 percent to 1,538.97 as of 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo, after surging 10 percent last month. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 1.3 percent to 18,844.69 on Monday. The yen traded at 120.51 per dollar, strengthening for a...