Currencies

• EUR/USDThe euro maintained yesterday's gain against the dollar on optimism Greece's creditors will agree to roll over the nation's debt to prevent the currency union's first default.
  • The euro was at $1.4294 at 1:55 p.m. in Tokyo from $1.4287 in New York.


• USD/JPY The yen rose against major currencies on speculation Japanese exporters took advantage of the currency's drop yesterday to buy it before the second quarter ends this week. The currency decreased against the dollar.
  • The dollar bought 80.78 yen from 80.89 yesterday and was trading at 80.76 around 7:30 a.m. London time.


• GBP/USD Sterling yesterday touched the lowest level against the dollar since January..
  • It climbed 0.3 percent to $1.6004 after touching $1.5914 and was trading at $1.595 around 7 a.m. London time.

Commodities

• Gold slid below $1,500 an ounce, hitting a five-week low, amid a pause in the escalation of worries about Greek debt and slowing global growth.
  • Gold futures on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell $4.50, or 0.3%, to $1,496 a troy ounce and was trading at 1497.10 around 7 a.m. London time.

• Crude Oil traded near a four-month low before an Energy Department report that may show gasoline stockpiles in the U.S. climbed to the highest in 12 weeks.
  • Futures for August delivery were at $90.55 a barrel, down 6 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:34 p.m. Singapore time.

Equities

• U.S. stocks advanced as regulators issued capital rules to safeguard the global financial system and technology companies rallied.
  • Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) jumped 3.7 percent.
  • The S&P 500 gained 0.9 percent to 1,280.10 at 4 p.m. in New York.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 108.98 points, or 0.9 percent, to 12,043.56 yesterday.


• European stocks closed little changed as Greek lawmakers debated austerity measures needed to secure more aid and hold off default.
  • Greek lawmakers are due to vote on a five-year austerity plan this week that is crucial for the country to secure more international aid. Failure to pass the plan may lead to the euro area's first sovereign default.
  • U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent.
  • Germany's DAX slipped 0.2 percent while France's CAC 40 gained 0.3 percent.
  • Greece's ASE dropped 0.5 percent.
• Asian stocks rose on speculation Greece may be allowed to roll over some of its bonds, easing concern the nation's sovereign debt crisis will spread across Europe.
  • The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8 percent to 131.77 as of 11:36 a.m. in Tokyo.
  • Japan's Nikkei 225 (NKY) Stock Average rose 1.1 percent.
  • Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.5 percent, while China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent.

Sources: Bloomberg, FT