A Quick Glance at News

v The U.K., France and Germany are pressing for new sanctions to bring Iran’s economy to its knees and curb its nuclear ambitions, according to several European diplomats, as rioting over the country’s tumbling currency suggests the existing sanctions are taking a toll.

v Asian markets pulled mostly higher in volatile trade Thursday, with Japanese car makers standing out as the yen weakened, to counter losses for energy firms.

v Hong Kong stocks slipped early Thursday as a tumble in oil prices hurt energy producers, overcoming an advance for financial-sector shares such as HSBC Holdings PLC after a higher finish on Wall Street.

v Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seeking to build on the biggest opening of the country’s economy in a decade as the cabinet is scheduled today to consider proposals to lift caps on foreign investment in insurance and pension industries.

v The European Union’s top banking regulator told the bloc’s lenders to hold on to more than 200 billion euros ($258 billion) in capital raised to pave the way for tougher global standards.

v Bank of England officials are poised to vote today to complete their latest round of stimulus amid intensifying dissent on inflation risks that threatens to cause a rift on future aid for the economy.

v Demand for space in U.S. shopping centers slowed in the third quarter as economic growth was reduced by stalled consumer spending, Reis Inc. (REIS) said today.

v European stock futures advanced, Asian shares gained and the region’s currencies climbed to the highest level in seven months against the dollar before policy decisions by three central banks and a monthly U.S. jobs report. Oil was near a two-month low after falling the most since June.

v Oil traded near a two-month low in New York after the government reported that U.S. crude production climbed to the highest level in more than 15 years while fuel consumption decreased.

v Iran’s freefalling currency is turning meat into a luxury, sparking overnight price surges and spurring shoppers to stockpile goods.

v India’s rupee will extend its best rally in three years and strengthen past 50 per dollar in 12 months as the government’s biggest policy push since 2009 lures investors, according to the most-accurate forecaster.

v U.S. natural gas futures ended lower on Wednesday for the first time in seven sessions, hit by a slightly milder turn in the extended weather forecast and profit-taking ahead of Thursday's inventory report despite the still-cool outlook for next week.

v Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held out the possibility on Wednesday that sanctions on Iran could be eased quickly if Tehran worked with major powers to address questions about its nuclear program.

v Brent futures edged up towards $109 per barrel on Thursday as a steep drop in the previous session brought in bargain hunters, while investors awaited further cues from a European Central Bank policy meeting and critical U.S. jobs data.

v The dollar gained against the Japanese yen on Thursday, and some strategists believe there could be more weakness ahead for the Japanese unit.