The euro bought $1.2199 from $1.2203 yesterday

Currencies

EUR/USD The euro was 0.2 percent from a two-year low against the dollar after Moody’s Investors Services cut Italy’s bond rating before the nation sells debt today.

• The euro bought $1.2199 from $1.2203 yesterday, when it touched $1.2167, the least since June 2010.

EUR/JPY The yen traded 0.4 percent from the strongest level in six weeks against the euro as signs global growth is slowing boosted demand for haven assets.

• The yen traded at 96.79 per euro as of 11:57 a.m. in Tokyo from 96.80 yesterday, when it reached 96.43, the strongest level since June 1. Japan’s currency is set for a 1.1 percent gain this week against the euro.

AUD/USD The Australian dollar rose as Asian stocks snapped a six-day slump following the data from China.

• The Australian dollar earlier rose to as high as $1.0165, before trading at $1.0151, 0.1 percent above yesterday’s close.

Commodities

Oil fell for the first time in three days, paring a weekly gain, on speculation demand will falter after China’s economy slowed and Europe’s debt crisis worsened.

• Oil for August delivery fell as much as 50 cents to $85.58 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $85.91 at 11:42 a.m. Singapore time. The contract rose 27 cents yesterday to $86.08, the highest close since July 5. Prices are up 1.7 percent this week and 13 percent lower this year.

Gold traded nearly flat on Friday, but remained on course for a second consecutive week of losses as worries about the euro zone debt crisis and the absence of stimulus measures in the United States buoyed the dollar and its safe haven appeal.

• Spot gold was little changed at $1,570.14 an ounce by 03:33 GMT, heading for a weekly decline of 0.8 percent.

Equities

Asian stocks rose, with the benchmark index poised to snap six days of losses, on speculation policy makers will do more to support growth after China reported the slowest expansion in three years, South Korea cut its outlook and Singapore said its economy shrank.

• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.5 percent to 115.29 as of 1:04 p.m. in Tokyo, paring its weekly loss to 2.8 percent, the biggest drop since May. About two shares rose for each that fell in the measure after China said gross domestic product rose 7.6 percent the three months through June 30.

European stocks declined the most in more than two weeks as minutes released by the Federal Reserve disappointed investors seeking a more definitive signal for further quantitative-easing measures.

• The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 1.1 percent to 252.89 at the close in London, the biggest retreat since June 25. The benchmark measure has retreated 0.6 percent this week, after a five-week rally, as concern mounted the slowing economic growth will curb earnings in the U.S. and Europe.

U.S. stocks retreated, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to the longest slump since May, as concern intensified about a slowdown in the global economic recovery and American corporate earnings.

• The S&P 500 slid 0.5 percent to 1,334.76 at 4 p.m. New York time, paring a drop of as much as 1.2 percent.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 31.26 points, or 0.3 percent, to 12,573.27, after losing more than 112 points.