Gasoline Market Update

Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for February RBG5, -3.43%  — the benchmark gasoline contract — fell 3 cents to $1.35 a gallon.

Gold gains for third session as stocks wobble

Gold prices advanced for a third session on Tuesday, helped by fresh demand for a safe haven in a new year that, so far, has been rough on stocks and other riskier assets.

Gold for February GCG5, -0.37% delivery rallied $15.40, or 1.3%, to settle at $1,219.40 an ounce, while March silver SIH5, -1.00%  gained 42 cents, or 2.6%, to $16.64 an ounce.

Oil closes below $48 a barrel as rout continues

The crude-oil collapse continued unabated Tuesday, with the U.S. benchmark closing below $48 a barrel for the first time since April 2009 as worries over Greek debt were added to a litany of bearish factors, including a global supply glut and a rising U.S. dollar.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude for delivery in February CLG5, -0.06%  fell $2.11, or 4.2%, to close at $47.93 a barrel, its lowest finish since April 2009.

Brent crude for February delivery on London’s ICE Futures Exchange LCOG5, -0.45%  fell $2.01, or 3.8%, to $51.10, also its lowest level since April 2009.

Current Market Update

 Here are the latest trading levels for Asia's major stock markets: 

Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 0.3% 

 Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) up 0.7% (at break) 

 Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) flat (at break) 

 Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) down 0.1% 

 Seoul (Kospi) up 0.1% 

 Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.2% 

 Taipei (Taiex) up 0.5%

Asian Market Update

Asian markets staged a mild recovery Wednesday, but traders remained nervous after oil prices hit new five-and-a-half-year lows and Greek political turmoil sent the euro skidding.

More losses on Wall Street and in Europe kept investors on edge as they awaited the release of US Federal Reserve minutes later in the day and jobs data on Friday.

Tokyo added 0.54 per cent by the break, Hong Kong was flat, Shanghai gained 0.51 per cent and Seoul put on 0.18 per cent while Sydney was 0.40 per cent lower.