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 ...

  Dubai / Reuters A rebound in the banking sector buoyed Saudi Arabia’s bourse on Wednesday and other Gulf bourses also rose, with Dubai’s Shuaa Capital surging on hopes that potential buyers of a stake in it had placed high bids. Saudi banking shares, which were among the market’s worst performers in May, attracted buying on dips as Saudi British ...