Equities subdued after hawkish Fed signals - 20.12.2024

The Dollar strengthening has stalled today. 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% higher on Thursday.

GBP/USD slowed its retreating yesterday while EUR/USD reversed its sliding as the Bank of England kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 4.75% as expected. Euro is higher against the dollar currently and Pound lower still. USD/JPY accelerated its advancing while AUD/USD reversed its retreating on Thursday with both the yen and Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

US stock index futures are lower currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes down at 4.56%. The three main stock benchmarks ended mixed on Thursday recording daily returns in a narrow range from -0.1% to 0.04% as Department of Labor reported initial unemployment claims decreased from the previous week.

European indexes futures are down today after stock indexes closed sharply lower yesterday with tech and real estate shares leading losses. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly lower today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng defying the trend while the People’s Bank of China left its benchmark loan prime rate unchanged.

Brent is inching down currently. Prices ended lower on Thursday as JPMorgan predicted that global crude oil supply will outpace demand to the tune of 1.2 million barrels per day in the next year. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slid 0.9% and are lower currently. Brent futures lost 0.7% to $72.88 a barrel on Thursday.