Stocks mixed after US stocks ended mixed - 18.10.2024

The Dollar strengthening has halted 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% higher on Thursday.

EUR/USD accelerated its retreating while GBP/USD reversed its sliding yesterday as the European Central Bank lowered the deposit rate by a further 25 basis points at its October meeting. Both euro and Pound are higher against the dollar currently. AUD/USD joined USD/JPY’s accelerated advancing on Thursday with both the yen and Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

US stock index futures are up currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes down at 4.093%. The three main stock benchmarks ended mixed on Thursday recording daily returns in a range from -0.02% to 0.37% with chips stocks leading gains buoyed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s upbeat forecast.

European indexes futures are mixed today after stock indexes closed up on Thursday as the ECB delivered its third interest rate cut of the year. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading gains as the People's Bank of China said the new Securities, Fund, and Insurance Swap Facility has started operating.

Brent is steady currently. Prices ended higher on Thursday after the Energy Information Administration said US crude inventories fell unexpectedly by 2.2 million barrels to 420.6 million barrels last week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures rose 0.4% and are higher currently. Brent futures added 0.3% to $74.45 a barrel on Thursday.