Gold Falls as U.S. Economic Data Fuels Bets on Fed Rate Increase

Gold fell to near a five-year low as stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data boosted speculation that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before the end of this year, damping the metal’s appeal as a store of value. Orders for business equipment in the U.S. climbed more than economists forecast in October, indicating steady domestic demand, and jobless claims dropped to the lowest in a month. The data add to signs the economy...

Oil Declines as U.S. Crude Supplies Gain While Rig Count Drops

Oil declined after crude inventories climbed to the highest level for November since 1930 even as explorers idled more drilling rigs. Crude supplies rose 961,000 barrels to 488.2 million last week, according to an Energy Information Administration report Wednesday. The number of active oil rigs fell to 555, the least in five years, data compiled by Baker Hughes Inc. show. Prices climbed 2.7 percent on Tuesday after Turkey shot down...

Japan Stocks Rise on Yen as U.S. Data Bolster Case for Fed Hike

Japanese stocks rose as U.S. economic data provided more support for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next month, boosting the dollar against the yen. The Topix index climbed 0.4 percent to 1,601.12 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with insurers leading gains while paper makers declined. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.5 percent to 19,951.19, near a three-month high. The yen traded at 122.69 per dollar after weakening on Wednesday...

Most Asian Stock Futures Rise Amid Oil Rally; Dollar Holds Gains

Most Asian index futures signaled a rebound following light pre-Thanksgiving trading in the U.S., while the dollar maintained gains. With U.S. markets shut for the holiday Thursday and calls for an easing in tensions between Russia and Turkey, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index meandered last session, closing little changed for a third day. Futures on stock gauges in Japan and Hong Kong rose, while those on Australian shares slipped...

S&P 500 Closes Little Changed Amid Data as Energy Shares Retreat

U.S. stocks closed little changed in light pre-holiday trading, with equities hovering near three-week highs as investors weighed mixed economic data and weakness in commodities. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index roamed in a narrow range for a third day, following the index’s strongest week this year. Declines in energy and raw-materials shares were offset as Pfizer Inc. climbed 2.8 percent to lead health-care companies higher. Macy’s...