Crude Oil Extends Declined as Iran Spurns Production Freeze Accord

Oil dropped for a second day as Iran bolstered crude exports and Russia signaled the Persian Gulf nation won’t join major producers in freezing output to reduce a global glut. Futures fell 2.3 percent in New York adding to Monday’s 3.4 percent decline. Iran has “reasonable arguments” for not joining an alliance to cap output now, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting with his Iranian counterpart. Iranian production...

Gold Falls a Third Day as Market Awaits U.S. Fed’s Policy Views

Gold futures had the biggest three-day loss since early November as the dollar climbed and traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve will tighten U.S. monetary policy this year. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index gained for a second day, reducing the appeal of commodities including gold that are priced in the U.S. currency. Traders are betting there’s a 52 percent chance that U.S. policy makers will raise interest rates by June,...

Hong Kong shares slip on profit-taking after Monday gains

Hong Kong shares finished down on Tuesday as investors took profits following the previous day's rally. The Hang Seng index fell 0.7 percent, to 20,288.77, while the China Enterprises Index lost 0.9 percent, to 8,605.63 points. Total trading volume of companies included in the HSI index was 1.2 billion shares. The Hang Seng was up 1.2 percent on Monday, in the wake of mainland indices which were up nearly 3 percent in Monday morning trade...

U.S. Stocks Fall Amid Focus on Central Banks as Fed Gathers

U.S. stocks slipped in light trading, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index posting back-to-back declines for the first time this month, as investors considered the capacity of central banks to boost global growth. The complexion of Tuesday’s retreat mirrored yesterday’s results, with commodity companies among the biggest losers, joined again by health-care and financial shares. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. plunged...

Europe Stocks Snap 2-Day Gain as Anglo American Leads Miner Drop

Declines in commodity and energy producers dragged down European stocks from a two-month high, after the Bank of Japan refrained from boosting its record monetary stimulus. Anglo American Plc tumbled 11 percent. Antofagasta Plc slid 4.5 percent, paring losses of as much as 11 percent, after abandoning its dividend and saying annual profit slumped 99 percent. A gauge of energy shares tracked crude lower, with Tullow...