Global equities down after Fed minutes reaffirm tapering possibility - 19.8.2021

The Dollar strengthening is intact currently ahead of the US Labor Department report at 14:30 CET expected to show 362 thousand Americans sought unemployment benefits over the last week, down from 375 thousand the previous week. 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 0.07% Wednesday.

EUR/USD continued retreating on Wednesday while GBP/USD reversed its sliding despite Office for National Statistics report UK inflation slowed more than expected in July: inflation declined to 1.8% year on year in July after 2.3% in June. Both pairs are lower currently. AUD/USD continued sliding while USD/JPY continued its advancing on Wednesday with both the Australian dollar and yen lower against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are down currently ahead of Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Manufacturing Index report due at 14:30 CET today with the 10-year US Treasuries yields down at 1.262%. The three main US stock indexes booked losses Wednesday ranging from -1.08% to -0.89% as Census Bureau reported housing projects started last month fell 7% compared to June, more than expected, while building permits issued in the month rose 2.6 per cent, breaking a string of declines.

European stock indexes are retreating currently after ending mixed Wednesday with mining shares leading losses. Asian stock indexes are in red today with  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index leading losses as selling pressure in stock markets extended from Chinese tech shares to semiconductors and miners.