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By Bloomberg

U.S. equity-index futures rose after Republicans won control of the Senate, the dollar strengthened and precious metals fell. European stocks climbed on better- than-estimated earnings while Brent crude oil retreated to four- year low and Russia's ruble weakened.

Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures advanced 0.4 percent at 10:45 a.m. in London, signaling the gauge will approach a record. The U.S. currency rose against all of its 16 major counterparts. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped 1 percent. Gold lost 2 percent as assets in the largest exchange-traded product backed by the metal dropped to a six-year low. Oil fell before government data that will probably show stockpiles rose for a fifth week. The ruble slid to a record as the central bank moved closer to allowing the currency to trade freely.

Republicans picked up seven Senate seats and more were possible, positioning Mitch McConnell, the chamber's Republican leader since 2007, to set the legislative agenda for the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency. Marks & Spencer Group Plc, the U.K.'s biggest clothing retailer, raised its forecast for full-year profitability, and Hannover Re, the world's third- biggest reinsurer by market value, said profit rose 21 percent.

"Republicans are seen as more business friendly, so it's not surprising if markets react positively to the mid-term results," Veronika Pechlaner, who helps oversee about $2.3 billion at Ashburton Ltd., said by phone from Jersey, the Channel Islands. "It could make it easier for decisions to be passed, and clearer decision-making is a good thing in U.S. politics."

The S&P 500 closed yesterday within 0.3 percent of a record reached on Oct. 31 and has rallied 8.9 percent this year.

More than five shares advanced for every one that declined in the Stoxx 600, which has rebounded 7.8 percent from this year's low reached on Oct. 16.

M&S Beats

Marks & Spencer rallied 8.2 percent, the most since March 2013, and Hannover Re gained 1.5 percent. Natixis SA climbed 2.4 percent after saying profit jumped 10 helped by higher asset- management and insurance revenue.

Outokumpu Oyj dropped 8.3 percent, dragging a gauge of European commodity producers down for a third day. The Finnish steelmaker reported a third-quarter net loss that was wider than analysts predicted.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell for a third day, slipping 0.7 percent, led by commodity producers and technology shares.

Dubai led declines worldwide, with the DFM General Index falling 3.3 percent. Benchmark gauges in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar slid at least 1.9 percent.

The ruble slid 1.7 percent to 44.3815 per dollar, after dropping as much as 3.2 percent to 44.98. The yield on the August 2023 ruble bond rose 10 basis points to 10.19 percent. The Micex declined 1.1 percent. Russian markets were closed yesterday for a public holiday.

Targeted Interventions

The Bank of Russia said it was abandoning its previous currency-intervention policy and will spend $350 million only once a day to support the ruble when it falls past its lower trading band. The central bank also said it may conduct additional interventions of an undisclosed size to ward off "threats" to the country's financial stability.

Ukraine's July 2017 Eurobond fell for a third day, sending the yield 18 basis points higher to 15.19 percent. The yield has climbed 180 basis points this week.

President Petro Poroshenko will ask parliament to revoke a law giving more autonomy to regions occupied by pro-Russian separatists after the rebels held elections on the weekend that were condemned by the U.S. and the European Union.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland companies listed in Hong Kong dropped 1 percent, the most in three weeks. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5 percent, falling for the first time in seven days.

Extending Lead

The dollar is extending its lead as the year's best- performing major currency as the U.S. economy gains momentum. It reached 114.59 yen today, the highest in almost seven years, adding to gains after Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said he saw no limit to the steps the central bank may take to defeat deflation. The U.S. currency reached $1.2488 per euro, approaching its strongest level in two years.

Norway's krone tumbled 0.6 percent to 8.6530 per euro, and reaching its weakest level since September 2009, as oil dropped.

Government bonds were little changed, with the rate on 10- year Treasury notes at 2.35 percent and the yield on similar- maturity German bunds at 0.82 percent.

Average yields on investment-grade bonds in euros fell to a record, while yields for junk borrowers declined to the lowest since Sept. 26, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch data.

Investment-grade bonds in euros yield 1.91 percentage points less than notes in dollars, the widest spread in six years and approaching the biggest gap since 2005, the data show.

Gold Slides

Gold for immediate delivery tumbled as much as 2.1 percent and touched $1,143.76, the lowest intraday level since April 2010. Silver dropped 3.9 percent to $15.4104. Platinum slid 1.8 percent and palladium lost 3.1 percent.

Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust slid 0.3 percent yesterday to 738.8 metric tons, the lowest since September 2008 when Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. collapsed, as falling oil prices and the end of bond buying by the Fed diminished demand for the metal as an inflation hedge.

The Bloomberg Commodity Index slumped 0.8 percent to its lowest in more than five years as copper, aluminum and nickel fell at least 1.1 percent in London trading.

Brent oil slid 0.9 percent to $82.05 a barrel, the lowest since Oct. 2010, while West Texas Intermediate contracts retreated 0.6 percent after reaching a three-year low yesterday. The weighted average of the main crude grades produced by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries fell below $80 a barrel for the first time in four years.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi will attend a conference in fellow OPEC member Venezuela tomorrow, according to embassy officials in Caracas. Venezuela is preparing a proposal to defend the oil price for OPEC's Nov. 27 meeting, President Nicolas Maduro said in comments broadcast on state television Oct. 31.