Gold has risen 9.7 percent from July 26

Currencies

EUR/USD The euro fell against most major currencies after a survey showed German investor sentiment stayed negative this month as the region’s economy struggles amid the debt crisis.

• The euro dropped 0.5 percent to $1.3048 at 5 p.m. in New York after appreciating to $1.3172 yesterday, the strongest level since May 4. The common currency declined 0.4 percent to 102.84 yen. It rose to 103.86 yesterday, the highest since May 9. The yen weakened 0.1 percent 78.82 per dollar, its third straight decline.

USD/JPY The yen fell to a four-week low after the Bank of Japan (8301) joined the Federal Reserve in expanding monetary easing.

• The yen touched 79.19 per dollar, the weakest since Aug. 22, before trading at 79.15 as of 1:21 p.m. in Tokyo, 0.4 percent lower than yesterday’s close. Japan’s currency earlier rose as much as 0.3 percent. It dropped 0.7 percent to 103.51 per euro, set for the weakest closing level since May. The 17- nation euro rallied 0.2 percent to $1.3070 after falling 0.6 percent in the past two days to $1.3048.

AUD/USD The Australian and New Zealand dollars advanced versus the yen after the Bank of Japan (8301) expanded stimulus measures, boosting demand for higher-yielding assets.

• The Australian dollar gained 0.5 percent to 82.83 yen at 3:02 p.m. in Sydney. It was at $1.0462 from $1.0457 yesterday, when it slid to $1.0410, the lowest since Sept. 11. New Zealand’s dollar advanced to 65.67 yen, the most since April 30, before trading at 65.65, 0.7 percent higher than yesterday’s close. It rose 0.3 percent to 82.93 U.S. cents.

USD/CAD Canada’s dollar broke a two-day slide against its U.S. peer after trading near a 13-month high as a technical measure showed the currency dropped from levels that suggested the rally was too high.

• The Canada’s dollar advanced 0.1 percentage point to 97.42 cents per U.S. dollar. It touched 96.33 on Sept. 14, the strongest level since August 2011. One Canadian dollar buys $1.0265.

Commodities

Oil climbed from the lowest close in more than two weeks in New York amid speculation that Japan’s expanded program of monetary easing may bolster fuel demand in the world’s third-biggest crude user.

• Oil for October delivery gained as much as 75 cents to $96.04 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $95.92 at 2:41 p.m. Sydney time. The contract slid $1.33 yesterday to $95.29, the lowest close since Aug. 30, and has dropped 4.5 percent since rising as high as $100.42 on Sept. 14. The October contract expires tomorrow. The more-active November future was at $96.21 a barrel, up 59 cents.

Gold may gain toward a six-month high as central banks around the world take further steps to boost growth, potentially debasing currencies and increasing the appeal of bullion as a store of value. Platinum rebounded.

• Gold has risen 9.7 percent from July 26, when European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that policy makers will do whatever is needed to preserve the euro, and last week gave details of a plan announced in August to buy the debt of member states. The U.S. Federal Reserve on Sept. 13 announced a third round of quantitative easing to boost growth, helping gold to rally to $1,778 the next day, the highest price since Feb. 29.

Equities

Asian stocks rose, with a regional benchmark index heading for its highest closing level since May, as the Bank of Japan boosted asset purchases, joining moves by the Federal Reserve last week to stimulate economic growth.

• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index (MXAP) rose 0.6 percent to 123.86 as of 1:48 p.m. in Tokyo, poised for the highest close since May 4. About three stocks advanced for each that fell. The gauge has gained this year amid speculation central banks will step up measures to promote global economic growth.

U.K. stocks fell for a second day, with the FTSE 100 Index continuing its retreat from a six-month high, amid renewed concern about Europe’s debt crisis and as tensions between Japan and China escalated.

• The FTSE 100 fell 25.36 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,868.16 at the close in London. The gauge pared an earlier drop of as much as 1 percent as Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the country will consider seeking a bailout if the conditions imposed are acceptable. The broader FTSE All- Share Index dropped 0.5 percent today, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index slipped 0.4 percent.

U.S. stocks fell, after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed to the highest level since 2007, as FedEx Corp. (FDX) slumped and concern grew that European leaders will struggle to resolve the region’s debt crisis.

• The S&P 500 slid 0.1 percent to 1,459.32 at 4 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 11.54 points, or 0.1 percent, to 13,564.64. About five stocks fell for every four advancing on U.S. exchanges today, as 6 billion shares traded hands, in line with the three-month average.