Oil Halts Decline Near Six-Year Low Before U.S. Stockpile Data

Oil halted its decline near the lowest close in more than six years before U.S. crude stockpile and production data. Futures rose as much as 1.6 percent in New York after slipping to the lowest level since February 2009 on Tuesday. Crude inventories probably increased by 1.3 million barrels for an eleventh week of gains through Dec. 4, according to a Bloomberg survey before an Energy Information Administration report Wednesday. The industry-funded...

Oil Price Settles Lower for a 3rd Straight Session

Oil futures settled lower on Tuesday for a third straight session, giving up earlier gains to remain stuck at levels not seen in nearly seven years. January West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $37.51 a barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.4%, after trading as high as $38.58 and low as $36.64. January Brent crude lost 47 cents, or 1.2%, to $40.26 a barrel. Both grades logged their lowest settlement prices since February 2009. Oil prices...

China Stock-Index Futures Little Changed Before Inflation Data

Chinese stock-index futures were little changed before inflation data that will signal whether demand is weakening in the world’s second-biggest economy. The offshore yuan strengthened even as the central bank cut the Chinese currency’s reference rate to the weakest level in four years. The CSI 300 December futures contract added 0.1 percent at 9:20 a.m. local time. Six companies...

Asian Stocks Head for Two-Month Low Before China Inflation Data

Asian stocks fell ahead of China inflation data, with the regional benchmark index headed for a two-month low, as the cheapest iron-ore prices on record weighed on commodity producers. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.4 percent to 130.14 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, poised for the lowest close since Oct. 6. The gauge extended its 2015 drop to 5.6 percent as oil lingered near its lowest level since 2009 and the decline in iron ore compounded...

Japan Stocks Fall Second Day as Rout Deepens in Commodity Prices

Japanese stocks fell for a second day, extending a global equities slump as a rout in commodities intensified. Energy explorers and oil refiners led declines. The Topix index declined 0.6 percent to 1,560.10 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, headed for its lowest close in a month. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 0.6 percent to 19,372.57. Global equities suffered their worst day in almost a month on Tuesday as oil lingered at its lowest...