Markets mixed after Wall Street ended mixed - 17.7.2025

The Dollar strengthening has resumed today. 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, ended 0.3% lower on Wednesday as president Trump said it is "highly unlikely" he will fire Fed Chair Powell unless fraud is proven amid renovation cost overruns after the Office of Management and Budget raised concerns about the renovations of two Fed buildings.

Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD reversed their retreating yesterday as UK inflation came in higher than expected at 3.6%. Both euro and Pound are lower currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing and AUD/USD reversed its sliding on Wednesday with both the yen and the Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are mixed currently ahead of unemployment claims and retail sales reports at 14:30 CET. US stocks closed up on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily gains in the range from 0.25% to 0.53% while Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed producer prices remained steady whereas Fed’s “Beige Book” survey of economic conditions indicated growing impacts from president Trump’s tariffs .

European stock indexes are mixed currently after indexes closed lower yesterday while European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic flew to Washington DC for in-person meetings with US officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly rising with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index defying the trend after earlier gains led by tech shares.

Brent is edging lower presently. Prices declined on Wednesday as the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported US gasoline stocks rose unexpectedly by 3.4 million barrels last week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slipped 0.2% and are lower currently. Brent crude slid 0.3% to $68.52 a barrel on Wednesday.