Oil settles under $37 for first time since the recession

Oil prices settled under $37 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since 2009, after data from the Organization of the Petroleum Countries’ report showed that the group increased its crude production in November to its highest monthly level in three years. Natural-gas futures, meanwhile, ended with a loss after a U.S. government report showed that supplies fell more than expected last week, but total stocks remained well above the...

Gold ends lower as bearish sentiment takes hold

Gold futures ended lower Thursday, bucking a trend that has seen the precious metal record modest back-to-back gains, as investors grew more wary ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s meeting next week. February gold shed $4.50, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,072 an ounce. Prices edged higher over the past two trading sessions. So far this month, the metal has now seen an equal number of up days as down days. The gold often trades opposite...

U.S. Stocks Rise as Energy Advances, Airlines Boost Industrials

U.S. stocks rose to halt a three-day slide, as beaten-down energy shares climbed for a second session from their lowest level since September and airlines led transportation companies off a three-month low. Weakness in energy and industrial shares has helped restrain equities from any meaningful advance since the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index reached a more than three-month high in early November. Airlines boosted industrials today,...

U.S. Stocks Pare Gains as Energy Trims Rise, Crude Extends Drop

U.S. stocks trimmed their gains after oil prices weakened further, blunting an advance among energy companies as equities have struggled for direction before next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting. Weakness in energy and industrial shares have helped keep equities from making any meaningful advance since the benchmark reached a more than three-month high in early November. Airlines boosted industrials today, while Chevron Corp. added...

Europe Stocks at 7-Week Low While Glencore Leads Miners Gains

A rally in commodity producers failed to lift sentiment in European stocks, which closed lower for a third day. The region’s shares extended their lowest levels since Oct. 21, with retailers Ocado Group Plc and Sports Direct International Plc plunging after reporting financial results that missed projections. Glencore Plc, on the other hand, jumped 7 percent as the Swiss commodities trader pledged to cut debt further, scale back operations...