Equities mixed ahead of ECB decision - 14.9.2023

The Dollar strengthening has halted 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, added 0.3% Wednesday.

EUR/USD paused its advancing on Wednesday while GBP/USD continued its retreating as the Office for National Statistics data indicated UK economy contracted more than expected in July. Euro is higher against the dollar currently while Pound is lower still. USD/JPY slowed its advancing yesterday while AUD/USD slowed its sliding with both the yen and the Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are higher currently ahead of US unemployment claims data at 14:30 CET today. The three main US stock indexes ended mixed on Wednesday in the range from -0.2% to 0.3% as Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed US consumer inflation grew more than expected in August.

European stock indexes futures are mixed currently after indexes closed mixed yesterday with retail stocks leading losses. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Japan’s Nikkei index leading gains as falling core machinery orders and moderate increases in producer prices spurred bets Bank of Japan will still need to maintain negative interest rates for the time being.

Brent is edging higher presently. Prices ended lower yesterday after the Energy Information Administration data showed US crude inventories rose by 4 million barrels last week when a draw was expected. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slid 0.36% but is higher currently. Brent crude slipped 0.2% to $91.88 a barrel on Wednesday.