Stocks track Wall Street higher - 18.6.2024

The Dollar strengthening continues 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, ended 0.1% lower on Monday.

Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD reversed their retreating on Monday while Eurostat reported labor costs rose 5.1% over year in the euro area. Both Pound and euro are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY accelerated its advancing yesterday while AUD/USD slowed its retreating with the yen lower still against the Greenback currently and Australian dollar higher after the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) stood pat on rates as widely expected.

Futures on three main US stock indexes are up currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury down at 4.273% ahead of retail sales report at 14:30 CET today. US markets ended higher on Monday with Nasdaq and SP 500 notching all-time closing highs as the three main stock benchmarks recorded daily gains in a range from 0.49% to 0.94%.

European stock indexes futures are higher currently after indexes closed mixed on Monday. Asian indexes futures are rising today with Australia’s All Ordinaries ASX 200 Index leading gains.

Brent is retracing lower currently. Oil prices ended nearly $2 higher yesterday at their highest settlement levels in over a month. US West Texas Intermediate WTI ended 2.4% higher but is down currently. Brent rose 2% to $84.25 a barrel on Monday.