A toxic combination of European banking concerns, a downward revision to Chinese growth and poor U.S. economic data battered Latin American currencies on Tuesday.
Brazil's real was hit the hardest, plunging to its weakest level in about two weeks, as investors fled higher-risk assets worldwide.
Oil prices fell 2 percent to below $77 per barrel on Tuesday as stock markets slumped and risk appetite dwindled on renewed worries over euro zone debt.
Oil fell as much as 1.7 percent to below $77 on Tuesday as forecasts indicated tropical storm Alex would skirt the main production region in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, limiting disruption there to a few precautionary shutdowns.
To get an idea of how some U.S. textile mills can compete with developing-world rivals who pay far lower wages, roll a bowling ball down one of the production lines at Parkdale Mills' Walnut Cove yarn plant.
Enbridge said on Monday that it declared force majeure on its offshore Nautilus natural gas pipeline system after some Gulf of Mexico producers shut in supply as a precaution against Tropical Storm Alex.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed opening on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.4 percent, Dow Jones futures gaining 0.3 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.3 percent at 4:50 a.m. ET.
Oil eased below $79 a barrel on Monday, turning lower after prices touched their highest in almost eight weeks as tropical storm Alex disrupted Mexican exports and prompted some U.S. producers to evacuate platforms.
Oil touched its highest price in almost eight weeks on Monday, trading near $79 as tropical storm Alex forced Mexico to slow oil exports and some offshore U.S. producers to evacuate platforms and curb output.
Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.45 percent on Monday, with the dollar little changed against a basket of currencies, despite an upbeat sign for the macroeconomic outlook on Friday from U.S. consumer sentiment, which rose in June to its highest since January 2008.
Gluey gobs of thick oil from BP Plc's Gulf of Mexico spill washed ashore in Mississippi for the first time on Sunday as Russia called for a special levy on oil companies to finance a fund to help clean up environmental disasters like this one.
Gluey gobs of thick oil from BP Plc's Gulf of Mexico spill washed ashore in Mississippi for the first time on Sunday as Russia called for a special levy on oil companies to finance a fund to help clean up environmental disasters like this one.
The Atlantic hurricane season's first named storm posed an uncertain threat to the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, as a report said relief wells may halt the worst U.S. oil spill ahead of schedule.
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is posing an uncertain threat to the Gulf of Mexico, even as efforts to contain the worst oil spill in U.S. history are set to ramp up.
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was on track on Saturday to reach the Gulf of Mexico within days, a potential threat to containment and cleanup of the worst ever U.S. oil spill.
Europe's focus on cutting deficits is absolutely wrong, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez said on Saturday, citing her country's experience with austerity she said helped lead to a huge default in 2001.
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was on track on Saturday to reach the Gulf of Mexico within days, a potential threat to containment and cleanup of the worst ever U.S. oil spill.
President Barack Obama was expected to focus on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster in talks on Saturday with Britain's new leader, even as the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season threatened to disrupt containment and cleanup efforts.
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season threatened on Saturday to veer toward the Gulf of Mexico within days, posing a new threat to containment and cleanup of the worst U.S. oil spill in history.
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron were expected to discuss London-based BP Plc and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Saturday as stormy weather raised fears that clean-up operations could be disrupted.
U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron were expected to discuss London-based BP Plc and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Saturday as stormy weather raised fears that clean-up operations could be disrupted.
BP Plc's struggle to contain the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was nearing a potentially important stage on Friday even as worries about the soaring costs of the clean-up sent the company's shares nose-diving to a 14-year-low.
Oil rose on Friday due to concerns that a storm in the Caribbean may move toward the Gulf of Mexico, where oil facilities are clustered and BP continues to fight an oil spill.
Oil slipped on Friday, heading for a weekly drop of 1.3 percent, as falling equity markets tempered an early boost from indications that the first storm of the Atlantic hurricane season might be developing.
Asian stocks slid on Friday for a fourth straight session, driven by expectations of tighter financial regulation and uncertainty about the global economic recovery ahead of the weekend G20 meeting. Concerns about the Greek debt crisis had also sent Wall Street lower on Thursday.
