Markets mixed after SP 500 ended at another record - 2.20 日

The Dollar strengthening has reversed 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 0.2% higher on Wednesday.

GBP/USD joined EUR/USD’s continuing retreat yesterday as the Office for National Statistics reported the UK’s inflation rate rose by above expected 3% in January. Both Pound and euro are higher against the dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing while AUD/USD resumed its sliding on Wednesday with both the yen and the Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are down currently ahead of unemployment benefits and Philly Fed Manufacturing Index reports at 14:30 CET. US stocks ended marginally higher on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily gains in a range from 0.07% to 0.24% while minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last meeting showed policymakers were concerned about the effects of President Donald Trump’s trade and immigration proposals and their prospects for hindering the drive to ease inflation.

European stock indexes are mixed currently after closing lower yesterday amid disappointing earnings reports. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly retreating currently with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index leading losses while Japanese auto makers fell after president Trump said his next round of tariffs - 25% duties on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors - will come within the next month.

Brent is edging down presently. Prices ended higher on Wednesday ahead of the American Petroleum Institute (API) report of builds in US crude oil inventories and gasoline inventories last week. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) will report US crude oil stocks today at 18:00 CET. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures advanced to $72.13 per barrel but are lower currently. Brent crude added 0.3% to $76.08 a barrel on Wednesday.