Gold gained on Wednesday after holdings in the world's largest bullion-backed ETF hit another record as investors sought safety from tumbling stock markets.
Asian stocks slid and the euro struggled near a two-week low on Wednesday as investors unwound risky positions before the quarter-end amid heightened concerns over banks' funding conditions in Europe.
World stocks, commodity prices and the euro tumbled on Tuesday as risk appetite ebbed over concerns about the repayment of 442 billion euros ($545.5 billion) to the European Central Bank.
Gold inched higher and U.S. Treasuries rose, pushing two-year note yields to the lowest on record, as jitters over the euro zone debt crisis supported safe-haven demand.
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.
Japan's Nikkei average slipped 0.6 percent on Tuesday, erasing earlier gains as exporters fell on a stronger yen and charts remained grim, with the benchmark poised for its worst quarter since Lehman Brothers failed in 2008.
Asian stocks fell on Tuesday and were on course for their worst quarterly performance since the end of 2008, while funding concerns in the euro zone sent the single currency tumbling to a record low against the Swiss franc.
Asian stocks were on course on Tuesday for their worst quarterly performance since the end of 2008, as the tepid nature of rich world's recovery from global recession keeps investors on the defensive.
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.
Gold bounced on Tuesday after a volatile session the previous day, when it nearly touched last week's all-time high before a firmer U.S. dollar triggered heavy selling from speculators.
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.
Stock index futures pointed to a weaker open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.3 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.25 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures falling 0.4 percent by 0939 GMT.
Asian stocks fell for a fourth straight session on Friday, driven by expectations of tighter financial regulation ahead of the weekend G20 meeting and uncertainty about the global economic recovery.
Asian stocks on Friday slid for a fourth straight session, driven by expectations of tighter financial regulation ahead of the weekend G20 meeting and uncertainty about the global economic recovery.
Asian stocks mostly steadied while the dollar eased on Thursday amid concerns over the global outlook after the Federal Reserve said the economic recovery was faltering.
Asian stocks firmed on Thursday, lifted by gain in miners on expectations Australia's government would compromise on a controversial mining tax, while the U.S. dollar eased after the Federal Reserve said the economic recovery was faltering.
Honda Motor Co halted production at a car making factory in southern China on Wednesday, making it the second car maker after Toyota Motor Corp to turn off assembly lines because of a strike at a supplier owned by Japan's Denso Corp.
European and Asian stocks fell on Wednesday as poor U.S. home sales added to fears about the global economic recovery and optimism over China's new flexible yuan policy faded.
Asian stocks slid on Wednesday and European markets were expected to follow suit as poor U.S. home sales added to fears about the global economic recovery and optimism over China's new flexible yuan policy faded.
The euro held steady on Wednesday but remained vulnerable as a recent risk rally appeared to have run its course and on concerns about the euro zone banking system.
A sharp fall in U.S. stocks .SPX the previous day and a subsequent drop in the Nikkei .N225 helped support the dollar and the yen, which are favoured when risk aversion spikes and doubts over the health of the global economy emerge.
Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday, as much as 1 percent, on unexpected gains in U.S. crude and gasoline stocks in an industry report, while weak U.S. home sales drove equities lower and dampened risk appetite.
The dollar and the yen were broadly steady on Wednesday while the euro and high-yielders were on the defensive as a recent risk rally appeared to have run its course and the euphoria from China's new yuan policy waned.
Asian stocks slid on Wednesday as an unexpected fall in U.S. home sales added to worries about the fragility of the global economic recovery and optimism over China's promise to make the yuan more flexible faded further.
