In his Jackson Hole, Wyo. conference speech, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said, in so many words, that headwinds -- some organic, some Capitol Hill-ish -- confronting the U.S. economy are strong, but the Fed is stronger.
Gold rose Friday nearly 2 percent after the head of the U.S. central bank, in a closely analyzed speech, declined to signal more money printing as a way energize the moribund U.S. economy.
Wall Street stocks rebounded on Friday as investors digested Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks about the economy and regained hope the door was still open for more monetary stimulus down the road.
The U.S. economy grew at a worse-than-expected 1.0 percent rate in the second quarter, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Friday, in its second estimate for the quarter, as lower export growth and a slowdown in inventory build-up braked the world's largest economy to near-stall speed.
Those expecting Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to pull a rabbit from his hat at a retreat for central bankers here on Friday may be in for a letdown.
Gold prices arrested this week's slide on Friday to rise nearly 1 percent ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later, which will be closely watched for hints on the outlook for Fed monetary policy.
Stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open for equities Friday after declines in the previous session, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 all up 0.2 percent.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's much-anticipated speech Friday will likely disappoint investors and policy makers hoping for signs the central bank will try to rev up the weak economy, but the speech is likely to relieve gold investors who have booked big profits from that same economic malaise.
Gold rose on Thursday after two days of sharp declines, as tumbling European and U.S. equity markets sparked by talk that Germany might enact a short-sale ban prompted investors to buy gold as a safe haven.
You've got to put your money somewhere, right? Under the mattress doesn't really work as a retirement program. It's lumpy, vulnerable to theft and your kids might find it.
The euro inched up against the dollar on Thursday, tracking gains in European shares on speculation the Federal Reserve may signal more economic stimulus measures, but analysts saw the risk of a correction if such expectations are not met.
SPDR Gold Trust said its holdings fell 2.2 pct, in its biggest one-day drop in seven months, as gold futures slid more than $100 on strong U.S. economic data and ahead of a key Federal Reserve meeting.
World stocks edged up on Thursday while gold fell sharply as investors took an optimistic view of how clearly the Federal Reserve will commit to supporting the economy at a gathering this week.
Gold extended losses on Thursday to fall as much as $200 from Tuesday's record high, as investors cashed in scorching gains in the metal after the CME Group hiked trading margins for the precious metal for a second time this month.
Brent crude steadied around $110 a barrel Thursday, boosted by reduced U.S. crude stocks and positive manufacturing data but countered by economic growth uncertainties.
If U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke needs any more evidence regarding the slowdown in the U.S. economic recovery, he need look no further than U.S. housing prices, which have fallen for 17 consecutive quarters
Whether the Federal Reserve likes it or not, its unprecedented monetary polices over the last few years have conditioned the financial markets to expect a helping hand when the going gets tough.
Investors are agonizing over the prospect of another round of quantitative easing that could come from the Fed chairman Ben Bernanke’s Jackson Hole summit later this week.
Beverage firms led Europe's top shares lower Wednesday, as mixed corporate results and cooling hopes over the prospect of further economic stimulus in the U.S. saw the recent rebound lose steam.
World stocks fell on Wednesday as European investors shuffled positions ahead of a Jackson Hole speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Japanese shares sold off following a Moody's downgrade.
Brent crude prices steadied above $109 Wednesday as investors pinned their hopes on the U.S. Federal Reserve to inject fresh stimulus to boost the world's largest economy.
Asian shares fell on Wednesday as a rally fueled by speculation that the Federal Reserve may signal further moves to support the struggling U.S. economy swiftly petered out, while gold rebounded from its sharpest one-day slide in 18 months.
