Markets up after Thursday mixed session - 19.6.2020

The Dollar strengthening continues today ahead of Fed chair Powell and Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester discussion in Ohio. 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, jumped 0.4% Thursday after Philadelphia Fed report manufacturing activity in the region was much stronger in June than anticipated, while US initial jobless claims rose above-expected 1.5 million last week. Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD accelerated their sliding yesterday as the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged at 0.1% but increased its bond buying by £100 billion, or $125 billion. Both pairs are higher currently. AUD/USD and USD/JPY continued retreating yesterday with both Australian dollar and yen higher currently against the greenback.

Futures on three main US stock indexes are edging higher currently after a mixed trading Thursday with  gains in energy and consumer shares offsetting losses in bank shares. The three main US stock indexes recorded returns ranging from -0.2% to 0.3%. European stock indexes are rebounding today after ending mixed Thursday. Asian indexes are mostly higher today led by Hong Kong’s Hang Seng as China declared its latest outbreak in Beijing under control.

Brent is extending gains today. Oil prices advanced yesterday after major producers at an OPEC-led meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, or JMMC revealed Iraq and Kazakhstan have submitted “compensations schedules” that show how they plan to make up for any previous shortfalls to output cuts in the upcoming months of July, August and September. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ended solidly higher yesterday: July WTI rose 2.3% and is higher currently. August Brent crude closed 2% higher at $41.51 a barrel on Thursday.