Equities mixed after Wall Street rebound - 17.10.2024

The Dollar strengthening is intact currently. 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 0.3% on Wednesday.

GBP/USD joined EUR/USD’s accelerated sliding yesterday while Office for National Statistics data showed inflation in the U.K. dropped sharply to 1.7% in September. Both Pound and euro are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its sliding while AUD/USD accelerated its retreating on Wednesday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar higher.

The US stock index futures are up currently ahead of retail sales data and unemployment claims report due at 16:30 CET today. US stocks closed higher on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily gains in a range from 0.3% to 0.8% led by utilities shares.

European stock indexes futures are mixed currently after closing mixed on Wednesday as chip stocks and luxury goods shares led losses. The European Central Bank is widely expected to lower interest rates for the third time this year today. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly lower today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index leading losses while Japanese data showed the country logged a bigger than expected trade deficit in September.

Brent is down presently. Prices edged lower yesterday. The Energy Information Administration will report US crude oil inventory at 19:00 CET today. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slid 0.3% and is lower currently. Brent crude slipped three cents to $74.22 a barrel on Wednesday.