Currencies

• EUR/USD Demand for the euro was trimmed on concern slowing growth in Europe will make it harder for the region to contain its sovereign debt crisis.
  • Europe's 17-nation currency traded at $1.4383 from $1.4358 yesterday, when it fell 0.3 percent.


• USD/JPY The yen was little changed at 76.78 per dollar after falling to 0.3 percent to 76.79 yesterday.

• USD/CAD The Canadian dollar traded within one cent of parity with the greenback as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index erased gains to close little changed.
  • The loonie earlier today advanced as much as 0.7 percent. The currency depreciated on Aug. 9 to C$1.0010, trading weaker than parity for the first time since February.

Commodities

• Gold advanced to an all-time high above $1,910 as investors sought to protect their wealth against financial turmoil amid speculation that the global economy is slowing.
  • Bullion for immediate delivery rose as much as 0.8 percent to $1,913.50 an ounce before trading at $1,901.23 an ounce at 2:06 p.m. in Singapore.

• Oil advanced for a second day in New York as investors bet U.S. fuel demand may rebound and a recovery in Libyan crude output will take longer than expected.
  • Crude for October delivery climbed as much as 99 cents to $85.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • Brent oil for October settlement was at $109 a barrel, up 64 cents, on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, after closing 0.2 percent lower yesterday.

Equities

• Futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose, signaling the U.S. equity gauge will open higher, on speculation the Federal Reserve will act to prop up the faltering economic recovery and as a contraction in Chinese manufacturing activity eased.
  • The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index gained 17.16 points, or 1.34%, to 1295.52.


• European stocks rose for a second day as commodities climbed amid continuing speculation the Federal Reserve will take action to bolster the economy. U.S. index futures and Asian shares gained.
  • The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 1.3 percent to 227.78 at 8:01 a.m. in London after yesterday rebounding from a two-year low.

• Asian bank increased, with the regional benchmark index rising from its lowest level in almost a year, as exporters climbed on speculation that the Federal Reserve will announce measures to shore up the U.S. recovery.
  • Japan's Nikkei 225 (NKY) Stock Average gained 1.2 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index added 1.2 percent.
  • Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index also rose 1.1 percent.
  • Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 2.2 percent.

Sources: Bloomberg, FT