US stocks log first gains in 2019 - 3.1.2019

US stock market advanced on the first trading day of 2019 in a volatile session on Wednesday while President Trump and Democrat leaders of Congress didn’t make a progress on budget disagreement over Wall financing that has resulted in partial government shutdown. The S&P 500 gained 0.1% to 2510.03. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.1% to 23346.24. Nasdaq composite index rose 0.5% to 6665.94. The dollar weakening reversed despite data showed US Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index came in at 53.8 for December instead of 53.9 as expected. 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 0.1% to 96.67 but is lower currently. Stock index futures point to lower openings today.

European stock markets ended first 2019 trading session slightly lower. Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD gave back previous session gains but are higher currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 closed 0.1% lower. Germany’s DAX 30 added 0.2% to 10580.19, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.9% and UK’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% to 6734.23. Futures indicate lower openings today.

Asian stock indices are mixed today after Apple’s 9% overnight downgrade of its quarterly sales projections citing slowing Chinese growth. Markets in Japan are closed for holiday while yen slid against the dollar after a steep climb overnight. China’s stocks are falling led by technology: the Shanghai Composite Index is down 0.04% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% lower. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index however gained 1.4% as the Australian dollar resumed climb against the greenback after a sharp fall overnight to multi-year lows attributed to automated selling.

Brent futures prices are lower today. Prices ended higher yesterday buoyed by a reported drop in December crude exports from Saudi Arabia: February Brent crude rallied 2.1% to $54.91 a barrel on Wednesday.