Global stocks mixed after US stocks post weekly gains - 15.8.2022

The Dollar strengthening 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, rose 0.4% on Friday while the University of Michigan data showed consumer sentiment improved slightly in August.

EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s continuing sliding Friday as data showed that UK gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.1% over quarter in the second three months of the year, less than the 0.3% contraction expected. Both Pound and euro are lower against the Dollar currently. Both USD/JPY and AUD/USD continued their climbing Friday with the yen higher against the Greenback currently and Australian dollar lower.

Futures on US equity benchmarks are down currently after US stocks closed higher on Friday following the University of Michigan report showing consumer sentiment improved in August. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily gains ranging from 1.3% to 2.1%.

European stock indexes futures are mixed currently after ending up on Friday with travel and leisure shares leading gains. Asian indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index leading losses despite China's central bank cutting key lending rates after Chinese data showed retail sales and industrial output both rose by less than expected in July.

Brent is extending losses today weighed by disappointing Chinese data. Oil prices ended lower on Friday on expectations that supply disruptions in the US Gulf of Mexico would be short lived. On Thursday, top US Gulf of Mexico oil producer Shell said it halted production at three deep-water platforms. And the energy services firm Baker Hughes reported US active oil rigs count, an early indicator of future output, rose by three to 601 last week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell 2.4% and is lower currently. Brent crude lost 1.5% to $98.15 a barrel on Friday.