Equities mixed after Wall Street pulled back - 18.6.2021

The Dollar strengthening is intact 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, gained 0.6% Thursday despite US Labor Department report 412 thousand Americans sought unemployment benefits over the last week, up from 375 thousand the previous week.

Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD continued their sliding Thursday despite Eurostat report core consumer price index rose more than expected in euro-zone in May. Both euro and Pound are lower against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its climbing while AUD/USD continued its sliding yesterday with both yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

Futures on three main US stock indexes are up currently as benchmark 10-year Treasury note yields hover around 1.516% - up from a close of 1.511% on Thursday with expansion in factory activity in Philadelphia area slowing less than expected in June. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily returns in the range of -0.6% to +0.88% Thursday as shares of Apple, Facebook and Amazon led gainers while investors bought technology giants and sold financial and energy shares.

European stock indexes are lower currently after closing lower Thursday with utility shares leading losses. Asian indexes are mixed today with Hang Seng leading gains while Nikkei leads losses despite analysts’ expectations Bank of Japan Tankan survey will show manufacturers' Q2 mood improved.