Forex Market Update

The dollar inched lower against the yen and euro after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen suggested the central bank’s first rate hike since 2006 may not occur until the second half of the year.

The dollar USDJPY, -0.23%  was at ¥118.89 Tuesday afternoon, compared with ¥118.83 late Monday in New York. The euro EURUSD, +0.05%  traded at $1.1342, compared with $1.1336.

Gasoline Market Update

Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for March RBH5, -0.48% —the benchmark gasoline contract—fell 2.6 cents, or 1.6%, to close at $1.6202 a gallon. 

Nymex natural-gas futures for March delivery NGH15, +0.96%  rose 2.3 cents, or 0.8%, to $2.902 per million British thermal units.

Oil Market Update

The U.S. crude-oil benchmark failed to hold on to initial gains Tuesday, losing ground for a fifth straight session as traders awaited the latest round of supply data.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude futures for delivery in April CLJ5, +0.04% lost 17 cents, or 0.3%, to close at $49.28 a barrel. WTI’s losing streak is the longest since August.

Brent crude for April delivery LCOJ5, +0.44%  on London’s ICE exchange also failed to hold on to initial gains, dropping 24 cents, or 0.4%, to close at $58.66 a barrel.