Reuters

World equity markets and U.S. bond yields fell while gold rose on Thursday as investors favored safe-haven investments amid growing skepticism U.S. President Donald Trump, embroiled in controversy, would achieve his economic agenda.

The Canadian dollar edged lower against its U.S. counterpart on Thursday, pulling back from a nearly two-week high earlier in the day as oil prices slipped and domestic manufacturing data fell more than expected.

Oil prices steadied on Thursday after U.S. data showed a big fall in crude stockpiles but also an increase in production, taking U.S. crude output to its highest in more than two years.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to near a six-month low last week, pointing to a further tightening in the labor market that could encourage the Federal Reserve to lay out a plan to start unwinding its massive bond portfolio.

The euro sank to a three-week low below $1.17 on Thursday after minutes from the European Central Bank’s July policy meeting showed officials warning about a possible market overshoot after six months of gains.

Global stocks fell on Thursday as investors trimmed their exposure to riskier assets after central bank minutes revealed a wary take on the economic outlook from ratesetters on both sides of the Atlantic.

Asian stocks edged higher on Thursday as tensions between the United States and North Korea came off the boil, while the Federal Reserve’s concerns about weak U.S. inflation weighed on the dollar.

President Donald Trump’s turnabout on the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia has rocked his administration, leading to rising speculation that some top officials may be looking for a way out.

The U.S. dollar was on the defensive on Thursday after the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting showed policymakers were increasingly wary of recent softness in inflation and could delay a rate hike.

Japan’s exports rose for an eighth straight month in July on robust shipments to the United States and a boost from a weak yen, a sign overseas demand rebounded from a lull in the previous quarter to underpin a steady economic recovery.