Dollar weakens on mixed housing data
US stock indexes rebounded on Friday as longer term bond yields held above short term debt yields, easing recession fears. The S&P 500 rose 1.4% to 2888.68, falling 1.0% for the week. Dow Jones industrial gained 1.2% to 25886.01. The Nasdaq rallied 1.7% to 7895.99. The dollar strengthening halted as US housing starts fell 4% on month in July while building permits rose 8.4%. 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, slipped less than 0.1% to 98.16 but is higher currently. Stock index futures point to higher market openings today
DAX leads European indexes movement
European stocks recovered on Friday led by pharmaceutical and bank shares. GBP/USD accelerated its climb while EUR/USD slowed declining on Friday with both pairs reversing their directions currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 1.1% Friday. The DAX 30 rallied 1.3% to 11562.74. France’s CAC 40 rose 1.2% and UK’s FTSE 100 gained 0.7% to 7117.15.
Shanghai Composite leads Asian indexes gains
Asian stock indices are rising today as traders closely watch developments in US-Chin trade dispute after president Trump said Sunday he was 'not ready' for China trade deal. Nikkei extended gains 0.7% to 20563.16 as yen slowed its slide against the dollar. China’s markets are sharply higher after the central bank announced it is altering the way it sets a key interest rate benchmark to reduce borrowing costs for companies: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 2.1% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 2% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index extended gains 1% despite the Australian dollar accelerating its climb against the greenback.
Brent up
Brent futures prices are extending gains today after a weekend attack on a Saudi oil facility by Yemenis. Prices rose on Friday: Brent for October settlement ended 0.7% higher at $58.64 a barrel Friday.