European (SXXP) stocks advanced for a fourth day, as retailers and household-goods makers rallied, amid a report that showed American unemployment claims fell more than analysts estimated.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.7 percent to 295.14 at 4:30 p.m. in London, for the longest winning streak since Jan. 4.

National benchmark indexes climbed in all of the 18 western European markets except Portugal.

FTSE 100 6,416.14 +28.77 +0.45% CAC 40 3,775.66 +31.95 +0.85% DAX 7,871.63 +61.00 +0.78%

U.S. initial jobless claims dropped by 42,000 to 346,000 in the week ended April 6, from a revised 388,000 in the previous week, Labor Department figures showed in Washington. Economists surveyed had called for a drop to 360,000.

The ECB said it will look for signs in economic data that inflation could slow more than it currently anticipates.

“In the coming weeks, the Governing Council will monitor very closely all incoming information on economic and monetary developments and assess any impact on the outlook for price stability,” the ECB said in its monthly bulletin today, echoing President Mario Draghi’s April 4 policy statement. “The monetary policy stance will remain accommodative for as long as needed.”

Marks & Spencer rose 4.1 percent to 399.6 pence, its biggest gain since March 18. The U.K.’s largest clothing retailer reported faster sales growth than analysts projected. Food revenue at U.K. stores open at least a year climbed 4 percent in the 13 weeks ended March 30, topping the 2.5 percent median estimate.

Ashmore jumped 13 percent to 400.9 pence, the most since October 2008. The U.K. fund manager that invests in emerging markets reported net inflows of $7.3 billion in the quarter that ended March 31. Assets under management increased to 9.4 percent to $77.7 billion.

Axa SA (CS) climbed 1.6 percent to 13.93 euros after the Paris- based insurer agreed to sell a U.S. unit to Protective Life Corp. for $1.06 billion. Axa is selling Mony Life Insurance Co. and transferring some obligations to Birmingham, Alabama-based Protective, the companies said today in separate statements.

Man Group Plc (EMG) jumped 6.8 percent to 104.3 pence. The world’s largest publicly traded hedge-fund manager said it no longer needs to hold a $300 million capital buffer after it confirmed with the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority a change in the company’s regulatory status.

Hays Plc gained 8.6 percent to 101.4 pence, the highest price in 21 months, after the recruiter forecast operating profit for the full-year ending in June will be near the upper end of a 112.3 million-pound ($173 million) to 122.5 million- pound range.

Oil prices fell, dropping at the same time below $ 105 per barrel, not much above the eight-month low, after analysts cut forecasts for global growth and demand for oil, and crude oil in the U.S. has reached its highest level in more than two decades. Unsatisfactory economic growth in the United States and in a number of developing countries, as well as a deep recession in parts of Europe have undermined demand for fuel at a time when oil production is growing rapidly, especially in North America.

Meanwhile, today it was announced that the International Energy Agency lowered its estimate for oil consumption in the 1st quarter of 2013 to 115,000 barrels a day to 89.9 million barrels a day. However, the forecast for growth in global oil consumption in 2013 was left almost unchanged at 0.8 million barrels per day. In addition, the report showed that the growth in oil demand in OECD countries will slow to 480,000 barrels a day in 2013, the IEA also lowered its forecast for oil supply from non-OPEC in 2013 to 20,000 barrels per day to 54.4 million barrels per day. Economists agency also added that the low level of activity in the industry will lead to the fact that in 2013 the demand for gasoline will exceed the demand for gas oil. At the same time, they noted that the current decline in oil prices may be short-lived.

Note that lowering forecasts raised concerns about the strength of the economic recovery. These concerns were highlighted by U.S. data, which were presented last week, and showed that employers hired in March, far fewer staff than expected.

Meanwhile, many traders fear that the outbreak of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran could disrupt oil supplies from the Persian Gulf.

May futures on U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) dropped to 94.13 dollars per barrel.

May futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell to $ 104.51 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

The recent rise in gold was reserved in 1561 marked the beginning of the U.S. session. At the moment, the price of gold fell again to trade at USD $ 1557.68 with a negative bias. Metal is in a bearish consolidation, but prolonged stability above 1570 will neutralize this attitude.

Gold prices rose, while recovering from a week minimum. After yesterday's release of the Fed minutes precious metals and raw materials constantly changed direction, as no one fully knows that the Fed's policy will mean in practice, but many are already aware that the suspension of QE3 will provoke a fall in prices for the yellow metal.

We also add that the dynamics of trade affected U.S. data. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Labor, initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. for the week March 31 - April 6 decreased by 42 thousand to 346 thousand (Consensus 362 thousand). The obtained data are somewhat offset the recent concerns about the labor market. Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. for the week of March 24-30, revised to 388 thousand from 385 thousand secondary applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. for the week of March 24-30 decreased by 12 thousand to 3.079 million

Meanwhile, experts note that the decline in stocks of exchange-traded funds, lowering forecasts for gold in the current year from Goldman Sachs, and the uncertainty about the stimulus programs of the Federal Reserve also influenced the prices.

May futures on COMEX gold rose today, and now stands at 1563.60 dollars per ounce.

Change % Change Last

GOLD 1,557.80 -28.90 -1.82%

OIL 94.57 +0.37 +0.39%