Brent Crude Oil Falls Below $30 for First Time Since April 2004

Brent oil dropped below $30 a barrel for the first time since April 2004 on speculation Iranian shipments will soon climb. Crude fell as much as 2.9 percent in London on signs that the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers may be implemented by the time markets open on Monday, triggering sanctions relief for the Islamic Republic that paves the way for a surge in oil exports. It will add 500,000 barrels a day of exports within a week...

Silver, Gold Advance on Bets Fed Will Raise Rates at Slower Pace

Silver futures gained the most in four weeks amid speculation that the Federal Reserve may slow the pace of increases for U.S. interest rates, boosting the metal’s appeal as a store of value. Gold also gained. Silver futures for March delivery gained 2.9 percent to settle at $14.156 an ounce at 1:49 p.m. on the Comex in New York. Prices are up 2.6 percent since the start of the year. Gold futures for February delivery added...

U.S. Stocks Tumble as Risk Flight Intensifies, Brent Oil Sinks

U.S. stocks tumbled, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging more than 370 points and small caps entering a bear market, as oil’s failure to maintain a 4 percent rally rekindled a flight from risk assets. Treasuries surged amid signs that demand for the relative safety of bonds is rising. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell past 1,900, a level it’s closed below only five times in the past 14 months. The Nasdaq 100...

Europe Stocks Rise for 2nd Day as Miners, Energy Shares Rebound

European stocks clung to their first back-to-back gains in almost a month, after giving up much of an earlier rally in the final two hours. Energy companies posted the best performance on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index, even after trimming some gains on a report showing an increase in crude inventories. Commodity producers rebounded from a 12-year low, with Rio Tinto Group and Randgold Resources Ltd. rising at least 1.5 percent. The Stoxx...

U.S. Stocks Halt Global Equities Rally as Oil Advance Falters

U.S. stocks halted a two-day advance as a rally in crude faltered and Treasuries erased losses, providing a fresh signal that China-fueled turmoil on financial markets has yet to fully subside. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index extended declines after European markets closed modestly higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.09 percent, while gold erased losses to trade above $1,090 an ounce. Oil was little changed...