By IFCMarkets
US stock market ended lower Thursday led by energy and industrial shares. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% to 2853.58. Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.3% to 25509.23. The Nasdaq composite however inched up 0.04% to 7891.78. The dollar resumed strengthening: the live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, rose 0.5% to 95.57 and is higher currently. Stock index futures point to lower openings today.
S&P 500 finished lower after mixed economic data: initial jobless claims fell more than expected last week, while the July producer price index was flat, compared with expectations for a 0.2% rise. Today at 16:30 CET July inflation report is due, the headline inflation is expected to remain steady at 2.9%. It is widely believed a slowing inflation may weaken the case for four interest rate hikes this year instead of three as previously planned.
European stocks edged up on Thursday led by consumer discretionary shares. The euro joined British Pound’s decline against the dollar with both currencies lower currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 index added 0.1%. Germany’s DAX 30 rose 0.3% to 12676.11. France’s CAC 40 ended fractionally higher at 5502.25 while UK’s FTSE 100 fell 0.5% to 7741.77.. Indices opened 0.4% – 0.9% lower today.
Pound retreat persists as no light is seen in the end of tunnel with no progress in Brexit talks. Today at 12:30 CET second quarter UK GDP report will be released, Q2 stronger growth is expected compared with the first three months of the year.
Asian stock indices are mostly higher today. Nikkei ended 1.3% lower at 22298.08 led by slumping semiconductor shares despite better than expected GDP report as yen turned higher against the dollar. Chinese stocks are mixed: the Shanghai Composite Index is 0.04% higher while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is down 0.9%. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is down 0.3% while Australian dollar’s slide against the greenback accelerates.
Brent futures prices are extending losses today. Prices ended lower yesterday after report China’s crude imports were lower in 2018 due to waning appetite from the country’s smaller independent, so-called teapot, refineries. October Brent lost 0.3% to $72.07 a barrel Thursday.
Market Analysis provided by IFCMarkets
Free Reports:
Note:
This overview has an informative and tutorial character and is published for free. All the data, included in the overview, are received from public sources, recognized as more or less reliable. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the indicated information is full and precise. Overviews are not updated. The whole information in each overview, including opinion, indicators, charts and anything else, is provided only for familiarization purposes and is not financial advice or а recommendation. The whole text and its any part, as well as the charts cannot be considered as an offer to make a deal with any asset. IFC Markets and its employees under any circumstances are not liable for any action taken by someone else during or after reading the overview.