The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 95.89  with a loss of  -0.10% percent or -0.10  point. The Dow Futures is trading at 25,429.00 up with +0.19% percent or +48.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,777.50 up  with +0.19% percent or +5.25 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,169.00 up with +0.44% percent or +31.25 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar index, a gauge of its value against major peers, was 0.05 percent higher at 95.96 on Friday, having closed on Thursday at its highest level since Aug. 21. That rise was driven by a steep fall in the euro on Thursday, which constitutes around 57 percent of the index.

The euro was relatively flat at $1.1454 on Friday, steadying slightly after losing 0.4 percent overnight. The single currency hit its lowest intra-day level of 1.1447 since Oct. 9 on Thursday after the European Commission said Italy’s 2019 budget draft is in serious breach of European Union budget rules.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,379.45  with  a loss of -1.27% percent or  -327.23 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,768.78 with a loss of  -1.44% percent or -40.43 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,485.14 with a loss of -2.06% percent or -157.56 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,560.75  with a loss of -1.82% percent or -28.85 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 972.21  with a loss of – 1.88% percent or -18.66 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,884.59  with a loss of -1.51% percent or  -28.83 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,232.83   with a loss of -1.50% percent or -18.83 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,633.28  with a loss of -1.48% or  -24.55 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,530.80  with a loss of – 1.45% percent or -22.59 point;