Equities rebound after Wall Street selloff - 22.4.2024

The Dollar strengthening has resumed 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, ended 0.1% lower on Friday.

GBP/USD accelerated its retreating while EUR/USD reversed its sliding on Friday while the Office for National Statistics reported UK retail sales underperfomed in March, coming in flat on the previous month. Both euro and Pound are lower against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY ended little changed while AUD/USD slowed its sliding on Friday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar higher.

US stocks indexes futures are higher currently after ending mixed on Friday. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily returns in the range from -2.1% to 0.6% weighed by tech shares.

European stock futures are up today after closing marginally lower on Friday with retail shares leading losses. Asian stock indexes futures are rising today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index leading gains.

Brent is retreating currently after Israel and Iran played down the risk of an escalation of hostilities following Israel's apparently small strike on Iran. Prices ended higher on Friday after initial spikes of more than $3 a barrel following report explosions were heard in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Meanwhile energy services firm Baker Hughes reported US energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in five weeks - by two to 619 in the week to April 19. US West Texas Intermediate WTI rose 0.5% but is lower currently. Brent added 0.2% to $87.29 a barrel on Friday.