Stocks downcast ahead of Fed decision - 1.5.2024

Senior Analytical Expert

Articles:792

Todays’ Market Summary

The Dollar strengthening is intact currently
Futures on three main US stock indexes are down
Brent is edging lower currently.
Gold prices are edging down currently

Top daily news

Global equity indexes are pointing mostly down currently ahead of Fed decision at 20:00 CET after Wall Street retreated on Tuesday. Amazon shares ended 3.29% lower before the company reported better than expected first quarter results sending shares of the retail giant up as much as 5% in after-hours trading, Microsoft stock fell 3.21% on Tuesday underperforming market.

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Forex news

Currency Pair	Change
EUR USD	-0.5%
GBP USD	-0.2%
USD JPY	+0.2%
AUD USD	-0.1%

The Dollar strengthening is intact 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, rose 0.5% on Tuesday.

Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD reversed their advancing yesterday while data showed euro zone core inflation continued declining in April. Both euro and Pound are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its retreating on Tuesday while AUD/USD reversed its advancing with both the yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

Stock Market news

Indices	Change
Dow Jones Index	-0.1%
Nikkei Index	+0.4%
GB 100 Index	+0.2%
Australian Stock Index	-0.2%

Futures on three main US stock indexes are down currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year US notes up at 4.686% ahead of Fed decision today widely expected to leave rates unchanged. Stock indexes ended solidly lower on Tuesday with three main stock benchmarks recording daily losses in a range from -2.0% to -1.6% while data showed US labor costs rose more than expected last quarter and US consumer confidence worsened in April.

European stock indexes are mixed currently after closing down on Tuesday with only healthcare stocks recording gains. Asian indexes futures are mostly retreating today with Japan’s Nikkei leading gains while Chinese markets are closed for holiday.

Commodity Market news

Commodities	Change
Brent Crude Oil	-0.2%
WTI Crude	-0.2%

Brent is edging lower currently. Prices accelerated their retreat yesterday before the American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing US crude oil stockpiles rose unexpectedly by 4.91 million barrels in the week ended April 26. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release its US inventory data at 16:30 CET today. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 0.9% and is lower today. Brent lost 0.99% to $86.33 a barrel on Tuesday.