Stocks pause after Wall Street ended at records - 26.7.2021

The Dollar strengthening has halted 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, gained 0.1% on Friday after Markit report US manufacturing activity expansion accelerated in July. 

GBP/USD reversed its climbing Friday while EUR/USD ended flat despite Eurostat report euro-zone business activity growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades. USD/JPY reversed its retreating Friday while AUD/USD reversed its climbing with Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently while yen higher.

Futures on US equity benchmarks are down currently as the three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily gains ranging from 0.7% to 1.04% Friday. With just over 20% of the SP 500 constituents having reported quarterly results, 88% of firms have beaten markets expectations so far. The earnings season continues with Facebook, Tesla, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon among companies expected to report quarterly earnings this week.

European stock indexes are retreating currently after ending higher on Friday with auto stocks leading gains. Asian indexes are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index leading losses on concerns over tightening Chinese regulations.