Dollar strengthening decelerates
US stock indexes ended mixed on Monday dragged by financials and communication-discretionary sectors. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% to 3020.97. Dow Jones industrial however added 0.1% to 27221.35. The Nasdaq composite slid 0.4% to 8293.33. The dollar strengthening decelerated ahead of Federal Reserve meeting starting 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, added 0.1% to 98.05 and is higher currently. Stock index futures point to lower market openings today
FTSE 100 rallies while other European indexes slip
European stocks extended gains on Monday as companies reported positive quarterly results. The EUR/USD turned higher while GBP/USD accelerated its slide as the head of the Scottish Conservatives said that she would refuse to support the no deal Brexit, and both pairs are down currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended 0.1% higher led by telecoms and financial services stocks. The DAX 30 slipped 0.02% to 12417.47. France’s CAC 40 slid 0.2% while UK’s FTSE 100 rallied 1.8% to 7686.61.
Nikkei leads Asian indexes rebound
Asian stock indices are recovering today after the Bank of Japan announced it will leave its monetary policy unchanged, as expected, and maintained its guidance of extremely low rates at least through spring 2020. Nikkei closed 0.4% higher at 21709.31 despite the yen climb against the dollar. Markets in China are rising ahead of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin meeting with Chinese negotiators in Beijng: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index added 0.3% as Australian dollar continued its slide against the greenback.
Brent rising
Brent futures prices are edging higher today. Prices rose yesterday: October Brent crude gained 0.2% to $63.62 a barrel on Monday.