The Dollar Index snapped a nine-day decline, while oil dropped and equities climbed after President Barack Obama said al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. operatives in Pakistan.
The Swiss franc weakened versus a majority of its most- traded peers. The yen snapped two-day gains versus the euro and the dollar following reports of bin Laden’s death and data that showed European manufacturing accelerated.
Oil futures fell 2.2 percent to $111.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after President Obama said Bin Laden was killed by a team of U.S. operatives after a firefight at a house in Pakistan.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index of shares added 0.7 percent, the Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.3 percent and futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.7 percent. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose almost two basis points.
A gauge of manufacturing in the 17-nation euro area rose to 58 from 57.5 in March, London-based Markit Economics said today. That’s above an initial estimate of 57.7 on April 19. A reading above 50 indicates growth.