Stocks mixed as Nasdaq retreats from record - 13.12.2024

The Dollar strengthening continues 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 0.3% higher on Thursday.

Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD continued their retreating yesterday while Ifo suggested German economy could grow by as little as 0.4% or as much as 1.1% in 2025 depending on economic policy. Both Pound and euro are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY slowed its advancing while AUD/USD continued its retreating on Thursday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and Australian dollar higher.

US stock index futures are higher currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes steady at 4.324%. The three main stock benchmarks ended down on Thursday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily losses in a narrow range from -0.66% to -0.53% as US wholesale inflation came in higher than expected.

European indexes futures are up today after stock indexes closed lower yesterday with mining shares leading losses while the European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points as widely expected. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading losses while policy updates from a high-profile Chinese legislative meeting failed to deliver large-scale economic stimulus as expected.

Brent is inching up currently. Prices ended lower on Thursday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slid 0.38% but are higher currently. Brent futures slipped 0.15% to $73.41 a barrel on Thursday.