Oil Falls From Three-Month High as Iran Refuses to Join Freeze

Oil dropped from a three-month high as Iran said it would raise output to pre-sanctions levels before joining talks to freeze production. Futures fell 3.4 percent in New York. Iran plans to raise output by about a third to 4 million barrels a day before it will consider joining any move to rebalance the market, the Iranian Students News Agency reported, citing Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. The Islamic republic boosted ...

Gold Futures Slide as Dollar Gains Amid Improving U.S. Outlook

Gold futures fell for the fifth time in six sessions as the dollar strengthened amid signs of an improving U.S. economic outlook, diminishing demand for the metal as a store of value. The Bloomberg Dollar Index rebounded from the weakest since October. Traders are pricing in a 52 percent chance that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by June, up from 6 percent a month ago, according to Fed fund futures data compiled by Bloomberg....

Hong Kong shares rise on global strength, mainland rally

Hong Kong stocks rose more than 1 percent on Monday, aided by sharp gains in mainland shares and a rally in global markets as oil prices climbed further. The Hang Seng index rose 1.2 percent, to 20,435.34, while the China Enterprises Index gained 1.5 percent, to 8,686.27 points Most sectors rose, with the property sector up over 2 percent. China Vanke Co Ltd surged 10 percent to a two-month high, after the Chinese developer said its...

S&P 500 Little Changed Before Central-Bank Meetings This Week

U.S stock closed little changed in light trading, near the highest levels this year, as investors awaited further assurances that central banks will continue to support growth. Gains in consumer shares, including Amazon.com Inc., Starbucks Corp. and Walt Disney Co., offset declines in energy and raw-materials companies, with commodity shares lagging Monday as crude oil fell. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. added...

European Stocks Log Second Straight Win, But Oil Shares Lag

European stocks pushed higher, led by miners, on Monday, while the broader market continued to welcome last week’s boost in stimulus from the European Central Bank. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.7% to close at 344.66, with only the oil and gas sector failing to gain ground. The pan-European index on Friday leapt 2.6% in the wake of the ECB’s expanded plans to boost sagging inflation in the eurozone. Monday’s win marked the index’s second...