Stocks

  Bloomberg Naoko Otsuka didn’t think twice about paying the equivalent of $23 for 5 ounces of chocolate. The dark-brown slivers of sweetness weren’t just a treat, the Japanese homemaker said, but an opportunity to learn more about a superfood. The six bars Otsuka bought from a store in Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya shopping district were made by an artisan manufacturer ...

  BLOOMBERG Global stocks slid to a six-week low and commodities fell as markets braced for the possibility that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates as soon as next month. A gauge of the dollar’s strength stood at a seven-week high. Oil fell as OPEC members agreed to stick to the policy of unfettered production, while European stocks and ...

  Bloomberg The Chinese smelters that churn out more than 40 percent of the world’s zinc may cut production for the first time in four years because they can’t get enough raw material, further lifting prices of one of this year’s strongest-performing commodities. Zinc, used for rustproofing steel in everything from auto bodies to suspension bridges, has surged as much ...

  BLOOMBERG U.S. stocks joined a slump in global equities, the dollar fell and Treasuries climbed as lackluster manufacturing data from Asia to Europe rekindled worldwide growth concerns and sent the odds for higher interest rates tumbling. The S&P 500 Index fell a second day, paring losses after data showed U.S. manufacturing unexpectedly expanded at a faster pace last month. ...

  Bloomberg French wheat fields have been hit by a deluge of rain in the past month, threatening to reduce the quality of grain before farmers start harvesting crops in July. Some areas of France, the European Union’s largest wheat grower, saw as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain in May, more than three times the normal amount ...

Bloomberg Gold held the first advance in 10 days as investors looked to the release of U.S. data this week including monthly payrolls that’ll shape the thinking of Federal Reserve policy makers on whether to raise interest rates in the months ahead. Bullion for immediate delivery traded at $1,216.18 an ounce by 10:10 a.m. in London from $1,215.32 on Tuesday, ...

  BLOOMBERG Bonds fell as the Federal Reserve seems intent to raise interest rates this summer amid signs inflation is picking up, while oil headed for its longest run of monthly gains in five years and stocks in the U.S. were little changed. Treasuries retreated in the first full day of trading since Fed Chair Janet Yellen said late Friday ...

  Bloomberg Consumers were the Achilles’ heel of the U.S. economy in the run-up to the last recession. This time, companies may play that role. Among the warning signs: rising debt, lagging profits and mounting defaults. While the financial vulnerabilities aren’t likely to lead to another downturn soon, economists say they point to potential potholes down the road for an ...

BLOOMBERG The Fed factor dominated global markets, battering bonds and developing-nation currencies while lifting the dollar. Treasury 10-year futures slid the most in almost two weeks and German bunds declined after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said an interest-rate increase is likely in coming months. Emerging-market currencies headed toward the worst month since August and gold fell for a ninth ...

  Bloomberg Companies probably love getting attention from analysts at Emperor Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. Investors who followed their advice for the past year, not so much. The unit of Emperor Capital Group Ltd. issued buy recommendations on every one of the 173 companies it reported covering from April 2015 through May 16. Its target prices, which the company ...