Markets down after Wall Street retreats again - 19.9.2022

The Dollar strengthening has resumed 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, slipped 0.1% on Friday as University of Michigan reported consumer confidence in the US improved modestly in September.

EUR/USD continued its climbing while GBP/USD continued its sliding Friday after the Office for National Statistics reported the UK  retail sales fell 1.6% over month in August. Both Pound and euro are lower against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing Friday while AUD/USD reversed its sliding with both the yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

Futures on US equity benchmarks are down currently after US stocks closed lower on Friday following the FedEx Corporation's withdrawal of its earnings forecast late on Thursday, citing signs of dampening global demand. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily losses ranging from 0.5% to 0.9% , falling to two-month lows and registering losses for the week too.

European stock indexes futures are retreating currently with UK markets closed for Queen’s funeral. They ended lower on Friday. Asian indexes futures are falling today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading losses as the People’s Bank of China cut a repo rate and also increased cash injections into the economy aiming to boost growth.

Brent is edging lower today. Prices rebounded Friday after oil exports from Iraq's Basra oil terminal were halted due to a spill at the terminal, spurring concerns about global crude supply crude supply. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained 3.9% and is higher currently. Brent crude rallied 4.1% to $92.84 a barrel on Friday. The benchmarks lost 0.1% and 0.2% on the week respectively.