WELLINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) -
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks edged higher on Tuesday as economic data bolstered views the Federal Reserve may decide against raising interest rates in the near term.
A weaker-than-expected reading on the U.S. services sector in August added to views the Fed will refrain from raising interest rates when it meets next week.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 28.71 points, or 0.16 percent, to 18,520.67, the S&P 500 .SPX had gained 3.69 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,183.67 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC had added 19.01 points, or 0.36 percent, to 5,268.91.
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LONDON - Britain's top share index lost ground on Tuesday, as a drop in Asian-focused bank Standard Chartered STAN.L and Provident Financial PFG.L weighed on the market.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE closed down 0.8 percent, with banks making up four of the top five fallers.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks extended gains on Tuesday, helped by buying in such defensive stocks as food companies, but overall trade was subdued as investors waited for U.S. markets to reopen after a holiday.
The Nikkei .N225 ended 0.3 percent higher at 17,081.98 points
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar tumbled on Tuesday after economic data showed the U.S. service sector grew at its slowest pace since early 2010, which dimmed expectations for a near-term interest rate increase from the Federal Reserve.
The dollar fell at least 1 percent against the yen, euro, Swiss franc, British pound and a number of other currencies, with the pound rising to its highest level against the dollar since mid-July. The dollar index .DXY dropped 1 percent to 94.821, its lowest since Aug. 26.
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields fell across the board on Tuesday, with most maturities falling to two-week lows, after a weaker-than-expected reading of a U.S. services sector index for August diminished expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates when it meets next week.
In midday New York trading, benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were up 16/32 in price to yield 1.540 percent, from 1.597 percent on Friday. Yields fell as low as 1.536 percent, their weakest since Aug. 26.
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Gold prices rose nearly 2 percent on Tuesday, the biggest percentage gain since June, as disappointing U.S. economic data reinforced speculation in the market that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates at its September policy meeting.
Spot gold XAU= rose for a fourth straight day to a session high of $1,351.84 an ounce, a rise of 1.9 percent - its biggest gain since June 24. Prices were up 1.73 percent at $1,349.29 per ounce by 2:20 p.m. EDT (1820 GMT). U.S. gold futures GCcv1 ended the session 2 percent higher at $1354.0.
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper edged down on Tuesday, drifting back towards last week's two-month low as a rise in inventories offset signs of a modest pick-up in buying.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 closed at $4,620 a tonne, down 0.1 percent, after ending the previous day little changed. LME copper is holding just above support at $4,600, a nine-week low touched last week.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Global benchmark Brent crude fell almost 1 percent on Tuesday as hopes waned for an agreement between two of the biggest oil producers to freeze output to tackle a global supply glut.
On Tuesday, Brent LCOc1 futures for November delivery fell 37 cents, or 0.8 percent, to settle at $47.26 a barrel. U.S. crude CLc1 , meanwhile, rose 39 cents, or 0.9 percent from Friday's settlement, to $44.83 per barrel. U.S. crude did not settle on Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.
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