Currencies

• EUR/USD The euro declined against the dollar amid concern Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may be unable to muster a majority for a key parliamentary vote as the country's borrowing costs reached euro-era records.
  • The 17-nation currency fell 0.2 percent to $1.3765 and was trading at $1.37685 around 7 a.m. London time.

• USD/CHF Switzerland's franc fell versus all major peers on speculation the Swiss National Bank will further limit the strength of its currency.
  • The franc declined 1 percent to 89.38 centimes versus the dollar as of 3:09 p.m. in Tokyo.

• AUD/USD The Australian dollar pared earlier gains as concern the European sovereign-debt crisis is spreading to Italy sapped demand for riskier assets.
  • The so-called Aussie was little changed $1.0363 as of 4:24 p.m. in Sydney, after earlier rising as much as 0.5 percent.

Commodities

• Gold traders are the most bullish in three weeks after hedge funds boosted their wagers on higher prices amid speculation Europe's debt crisis and slow U.S. growth will spur demand for the metal as a protection of wealth.
  • Spot Gold was trading at 1770.90 around 7:30 a.m. London time.

• Oil rose for a fourth day in New York as signs that Greece may secure a financial rescue package countered speculation that Italy will fail to pass a budget vote and worsen the region's sovereign debt crisis.
  • Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou agreed to step down to allow the creation of a unity government to receive international aid and avert a collapse of the country's economy.
  • Oil for December delivery increased as much as 70 cents to $94.96 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $94.59 at 5:35 p.m. Sydney time.

Equities

• US Stocks capped their first weekly loss since September with a drop on Friday, as Europe's sovereign-debt problems overshadowed a small gain in U.S. employment.
  • The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index shed 7.92 points, or 0.6%, to 1253.23.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 61.23 points, or 0.5%, to 11983.24.


• European Stocks declined amid concerns on Europe's debt crisis.
  • The U.K.'s FTSE 100 closed 0.33% lower at 5,527.16.
  • Germany's DAX decreased 2.72% to 5,966.16 and France's CAC-40 closed down 2.25% at 3,123.55.

• Asian stocks fell after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou agreed to step down and as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi struggled to keep his majority ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote tomorrow.
  • The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.2 percent to 120 as of 3:34 p.m. in Tokyo.
  • Japan's Nikkei 225 (NKY) Stock Average lost 0.4 percent.
  • Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.2 percent, while China's Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.8 percent.

Sources: Bloomberg, FT