Markets down after US stocks closed mixed - 25.3.2024

The Dollar strengthening has halted 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 0.4% higher on Friday.

Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD slowed their retreating on Friday as the Office for National Statistics reported UK retail sales remained unchanged in February when a decline was expected. Both euro and Pound are higher against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing while AUD/USD accelerated its retreating on Friday with both the yen and the Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

US stocks indexes futures are lower currently after ending mixed on Friday. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily returns in the range from -0.77% to 0.16% on Friday while consumer discretionary shares edged lower as sportwear makers Nike and Lululemon Athletica forecast annual revenue and profit below expectations.

European stock indexes futures are mixed currently after closing marginally higher on Friday with travel shares leading losses. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly down today with Japan's Nikkei leading losses as traders booked profits after recent record highs.

Brent is retracing up currently. Prices ended lower on Friday while energy services firm Baker Hughes reported US energy firms cut the number of active oil rigs by one to 509 last week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost 0.5% but is higher currently. Brent fell 0.4% to $85.43 a barrel on Friday. Both benchmarks posted weekly losses of less than 1%.