REUTERS

Gold edges up after worst day in a year, Fed eyed

SINGAPORE, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Gold edged higher on Tuesday, aided by a softer dollar, after falling more than 2 percent in the prior session in its deepest slide in over a year following a sustained slump in oil prices.

Apart from oil, investors are eyeing the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting which kicks off on Tuesday for clues on the timing of an increase in U.S. interest rates.

The U.S. economy has strengthened and jobs have been created at a faster-than-expected clip since the Fed's last meeting in October, when it reiterated that benchmark rates were unlikely to rise for a "considerable time".

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/16/markets-precious-idUSL3N0U016U20141216

BLOOMBERG

Ruble Fails to Sustain Gains After Surprise Russia Rate Increase

The ruble failed to sustain its biggest advance in 16 years in a sign slumping oil is outweighing Russia's attempt to defuse a currency crisis with the largest interest-rate increase since 1998.

The ruble erased a gain of as much as 10.8 percent, trading 0.3 percent lower at 64.6320 a dollar by 11:42 a.m. in Moscow, following a surprise Bank of Russia decision to take its key interest rate to 17 percent from 10.5 percent. Ten-year government bond yields jumped more than two percentage points to cross 15 percent for the first time.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-16/ruble-snaps-six-day-loss-on-surprise-rate-increase-to-17-percent.html

BLOOMBERG

Why 1998 Was Different, and Same, to Emerging-Market Crisis Now

Oil prices were tanking. Emerging-market currencies were in a freefall. Venezuela was mired in a financial crisis and Russia had sunk into a debt default and devaluation.

The year was 1998.

Emerging markets today look a lot like they did back then. Yet there have been key changes that could help most of them escape full-blown crises. Here's a look at the similarities and differences between now and then.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-16/why-1998-was-different-and-same-to-emerging-market-crisis-now.html