Copper rose, extending the biggest rally in more than two and a half years, as investors expected European leaders to hammer out details on enhancing the region’s bailout fund at a summit tomorrow. The metal for delivery in three months on the London Metal Exchange gained as much as 2.4 percent to $7,820 a metric ton, the highest level since Sept. 22, and after surging 13 percent in the past two days. The contract was at $7,710 a ton at 3 p.m. Shanghai time, after falling as much as 1.2 percent to $7,545.50 a ton earlier. “Profit-taking earlier today weighed down prices, but short-covering on hope of ...

Oil gained for a second day in New York as investors speculated that fuel demand will increase amid signs of an economic recovery and moves by European leaders to tame the region’s sovereign debt crisis. Futures climbed as much as 1.3 percent after reports showed Japanese exports rose more than forecast last month and Chinese manufacturing may expand at the fastest pace in five months in October. The two nations are Asia’s biggest oil consumers. Europemay agree on a blueprint to rein in the debt crisis at an Oct. 26 summit after leaders yesterday said they’ll aid banks. “The market is still riding on optimism,” said Jonathan Barratt, a managing director of ...

Gold fell for a third day in London as reports that France and Germany are nearing an accord to boost the size of Europe’s rescue fund curbed demand for the metal as a protection of wealth. The euro gained against the dollar as the Guardian newspaper reported the two nations support increasing the size of the 440 billion-euro ($607 billion) European Financial Stability Facility to 2 trillion euros ahead of a summit this weekend. European equities advanced. “The euro is up on the back of that, and it could be responsible for ...

Oil fell for a second day in New York after China said its economy grew at the slowest pace in two years and U.S. crude stockpiles were forecast to increase. Futures dropped as much as 1 percent, extending yesterday’s 0.5 percent decline, after China’s statistics bureau said the economy grew at 9.1 percent in the third quarter, less than predicted. An Energy Department report tomorrow may show U.S. crude inventories climbed for a second week, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Technical indicators indicate prices may have advanced too fast to be sustainable. “The correction could go further, below ...