Equities on the rise after US-China negotiators talk - 8.5.2020

The Dollar weakening continues today ahead of April jobs report. 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, fell 0.3% Thursday after report initial jobless claims jumped another 3.2 million last week. Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD reversed sliding yesterday with both pairs lower currently. Pound got a support from Bank of England decision keeping interest rates steady at 0.1% and asset purchases at £645 billion. Both USD/JPY and AUD/USD reversed sliding and are higher currently.

Futures on three main US stock indexes are higher currently after a surge Thursday. Earnings season continues with another batch of companies including Siemens, Mitsubishi and ING reporting quarterly results today. Stock indexes in US ended solidly higher on Thursday led by technology shares: the three main US stock indexes recorded gains ranging from 0.9% to 1.4%. European stock indexes are rising today after ending higher Thursday led by retail stocks. Asian indexes are higher today after China’s commerce ministry stated US and China agreed to work together to implement the Phase One trade agreement signed earlier this year: NIKKEI jumped 2.5%while Shanghai Composite added 0.8%.

Brent is retracing higher today after retreat on Thursday. Oil prices gave back earlier gains prompted by reports Saudi Arabia, the most influential member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is raising crude prices for its customers world-wide. However the US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ended lower yesterday: June WTI lost 1.8% but is sharply higher currently. July Brent crude closed 0.9% lower at $29.46 a barrel on Thursday.