Reuters

Gold prices held early on Wednesday near a seven-week high struck in the previous session, as downbeat U.S. data weakened the prospect of the Federal Reserve pursuing an aggressive rate hike stance.

Oil fell on Wednesday, with rising U.S. fuel inventories pulling U.S. crude back below $50 per barrel, while ongoing high supplies from producer club OPEC weighed on international prices.

Asian stocks paused near decade-highs on Wednesday as investors waited to see if strong earnings results from tech bellwether Apple would ripple out to component makers in the region.

The dollar clung to modest gains on Wednesday after bouncing from 15-month lows, benefiting from a pause in selling of the battered currency as investors begin positioning for key events this week, notably Friday’s U.S. employment report.

A gauge of U.S. factory activity slid from a near three-year high in July amid a slowdown in new orders and consumer spending barely rose in the prior month, setting the stage for a moderate economic expansion in the third quarter.

A gauge of world stocks advanced on Tuesday after scoring its longest monthly winning streak in over a decade on signs of an improving global economy and solid corporate earnings, while the U.S. dollar bounced after touching 15-month lows.

A measure of U.S. factory activity fell from a near three-year high in July amid a drop in new orders and consumer spending barely rose in the prior month, setting the economy on a moderate growth path in the third quarter.

Britain’s pound climbed to its highest levels against the dollar since mid-September on Tuesday, as data showing UK factory activity growth recovered from a seven-month low in July eased concerns about an economic slowdown.

U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday as buying demand from month-end extensions passed and U.S. economic data contained no significant surprises.

The dollar edged higher on Tuesday as investors consolidated positions, a day after fresh political turmoil in Washington caused the U.S. currency to post its biggest monthly drop in 16 months.