US equities pull back on mixed reports - 1.11.2019

Dollar weakening continues as jobless claims rise

US stocks gave back most of previous session gains on Thursday on mixed corporate reports and data . The S&P 500 lost 0.3% to 3037.56. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.5% to 27046.23. Nasdaq composite index slipped 0.1% to 8292.36. The dollar weakening continued as data showed core inflation ticked lower and initial jobless claims edged up, while Chicago Fed purchasing managers index fell in October when an increase was expected. 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 0.1% to 97.32 and is lower currently. Futures on US stock indices point to higher openings.

FTSE 100 leads European indexes losses

European stock market turned lower on Thursday as concerns about US-China deal resurfaced. EUR/USD turned lower yesterday while GBP/USD continued climbing and both pairs are rising currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended 0.5% lower led by energy shares. Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.3% to 12866.79 as the September retail sales growth came in lower than expected. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.6% as French inflation declined on month in October when an increase was expected. UK’s FTSE 100 dropped 1.1% to 7248.38.

Shanghai Composite leads Asian indexes gains

Asian stock indices are mostly rising today. Nikkei lost 0.3% to 22850.77 as yen climb against dollar slowed. Chinese stocks are rising as Caixin private agency reported China's factory activity inched up: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 1.0% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.7% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index turned higher 0.1% despite resumed Australian dollar climb against the greenback.

Brent up

Brent futures prices are edging higher today. Prices ended lower yesterday against the backdrop of rising concerns about global growth: January Brent crude fell 1% to $59.62 a barrel on Thursday.