Dollar strengthens on strong home sales data
US stock market ended sharply lower on Friday as the spread between three-month and 10-year yields turned negative. S&P 500 fell 1.9% to 2800.71, closing 0.8% lower for the week. Dow Jones industrial fell 1.8% to 25502.32. The Nasdaq dropped 2.5% to 7642.67. The dollar strengthening continued as existing home sales hit an 11-month high in February. 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, rose 0.3% to 96.576 and is higher currently. Futures on US stock indexes point to lower openings today.
DAX 30 loses less than other European indices
European stocks extended losses on Friday on disappointing data. The GBP/USD resumed gaining as EUR/USDcontinued its slide with both pairs reversing currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 1.2%. The DAX 30 fell 1.6% to 11364.17 as manufacturing PMI reading indicated contraction in manufacturing accelerated. France’s CAC 40fell 2% and UK’s FTSE 100 dropped 2% to 7207.59.
Nikkei leads Asian indices gains
Asian stock indices sharply lower today tracking losses Friday on Wall Street prompted by yield curve inversion.Nikkei dropped 3% to 20977.11 with yen resuming its slide against the dollar. Chinese markets are falling: the Shanghai Composite Index is down 2.0% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 2.1% lower. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index turned 1.1% lower as the Australian dollar resumed its climb against the greenback.
Brent falling
Brent futures prices are lower today as traders worry about possible global growth slowdown after Friday data. Prices ended lower on Friday despite Baker Hughes report that the number of active US rigs drilling for oil fell for a fifth straight week: Brent for May settlement fell 1.2% to close at $67.03 a barrel Friday, sliding 0.2% for the week.