Stocks mixed ahead of US markets reopening - 1.4.2024

The Dollar strengthening has resumed 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 0.1% lower on Friday.

EUR/USD reversed its retreating on Friday while GBP/USD ended little changed. Both euro and Pound are lower against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing while AUD/USD slowed its retreating on Friday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar higher.

US stocks indexes futures are higher currently after ending mixed on Thursday. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily returns in the range from -0.12% to 0.12% on Thursday ahead of personal consumption expenditure data release on Friday showing Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure indicates price pressures are further easing.

European markets will remain closed today for Easter Monday after closing marginally higher on Thursday with travel shares leading gains. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Japan's Nikkei leading losses while mainland Chinese blue chips rose after Caixin private survey showed that country's manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in 13 months in March.

Brent is rising currently. There were no settlements for Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) on Friday as US and European markets were closed for a holiday. Both benchmarks finished higher for a third consecutive month in March as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, pledged to extend production cuts to the end of June.