Dollar weakening continued after weak manufacturing and services PMI readings
US stock market pulled back on Friday on weak data. The S&P 500 slid 0.1% to 2950.46, rallying 2.2% for the week. Dow Jones industrial slipped 0.1% to 26719.13. The Nasdaq lost 0.2% to 8031.71. The dollar weakening continued at previous session pace as data showed manufacturing and services sectors activities slowed in May, while existing home sales rose. 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 0.5% to 96.16 and is lower currently. Futures on US stock indices point to mixed openings today.
FTSE 100 loss leader among European indexes
European stocks ended lower on Friday despite better than expected German and French purchasing manager surveys results. Both the GBP/USD and EUR/USD continued their advance with euro higher currently while Pound reversing lower. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.4% Friday led by healthcare shares. The DAX 30 slipped 0.1% to 12339.92. France’s CAC 40 slid 0.1% and UK’s FTSE 100 lost 0.3% to 7345.78.
Nikkei lags behind Asian indexes
Asian stock indices are rising today after report China’s President Xi Jinping will attend the G-20 summit in Japan this week. Nikkei added 0.1% to 21285.99 with yen slide against the dollar intact. China’s markets are gaining: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 0.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index turned 0.2% higher despite the Australian dollar’s accelerating climb against the greenback.
Brent steady
Brent futures prices are steady today. Prices ended higher on Friday despite Baker Hughes report the number of active U.S. drilling rigs edged up by 1 to 789, following two consecutive weeks of declines: Brent for August settlement rose 1.2% to close at $65.20 a barrel Friday, gaining 5.1% for the week.