U. S. stocks extended a global slide, sending the MSCI World Index down the most in two months, as falling oil and metal prices weighed on commodity producers. Treasuries rose and the dollar strengthened.

Freeport? McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. retreated 5.8 % as copper sank by the daily limit in Shanghai on speculation supply may outpace demand in China, the largest consumer of the metal.

Kudrin's comments helped U. S. Treasuries climb for a third day, the longest streak in a month, even after international holdings of longterm U. S. financial assets rose at a slower pace in April as China,

Japan and Russia trimmed holdings of bonds. Purchases of long? term equities, notes and bonds rose a net $11.2 bn, compared with buying of $55.4 bn in March, the Treasury said today in Washington. The dollar gained to $1.3767 per euro from $1.3803 yesterday, when it strengthened 1.5%.

Today Industrial production data will be released in US and is expected to decline by 1.0% Month on Month. Industrial production in April fell 0.5%, following March's 1.7% plunge.

The yen strengthened against higher? yielding currencies as a decline in Asian stocks increased demand for safer investments. Japan's currency gained the most against the Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar and British pound as speculation the global economic crisis is far from over spurred investors to cut holdings of riskier assets.

The yen and dollar strengthened against higher? yielding currencies on speculation a decline in stocks will spur demand for safer assets. Asian stocks fell for a second day, led by automakers and mining companies, after a New York manufacturing report missed economist estimates and commodity prices sank.

India's southwest monsoon, which runs from June to September, won't advance in the next three to four days, the weather office said, likely delaying the sowing of crops such as soybeans, peanuts and cotton. The monsoon may be delayed in the states of Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department said on its Web site today.

Today Indian stock markets are expected to open low and will continue to trade low during the day.