Markets mixed after SP 500 closed above 5,000 - 12.2.2024

The Dollar weakening is intact 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, slipped 0.1 % on Friday.

GBP/USD joined EUR/USD’s accelerated advancing on Friday as final data from federal statistics office Destatis showed German inflation fell in January to 3.1%. Both euro and Pound are higher against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY ended flat on Friday while AUD/USD reversed its retreating with the yen higher against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar lower.

US stocks indexes futures are down currently after closing mixed on Friday against the background of strong corporate reports. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily returns in the range from -0.1% to 1.25% on Friday.

European stock indexes futures are mixed currently after closing marginally lower on Friday with food and beverage shares leading losses. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Australia’s ASX 200 index leading losses in thin trading as Chinese, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korean markets were closed for the Lunar New Year while Japan is also shut for National Day.

Brent is edging down currently. Prices ended higher on Friday while energy services firm Baker Hughes reported the active US oil and natural gas rig count, an early indicator of future supply, rose by 4 to 623 in the week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 0.8% but is lower currently. Brent added 0.7% to $82.19 a barrel on Friday. Both benchmarks posted weekly gains of roughly 6%.