The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.72 with a loss of -0.10% percent or -0.10 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 24,561.00 up with +0.51% percent or +124.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,655.25 up with +0.58% percent or +15.25 point. The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 6,587.50 up with +0.84% percent or +54.00 point.
TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS
The euro rose on Wednesday, buoyed by reports that Italy may be open to reviewing its draft budget for 2019, potentially easing a confrontation with the European Union.
The European Commission is set to take the first step on Wednesday towards disciplining Italy over its draft fiscal plan.
But a report that Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini may be open to reviewing the government’s 2019 budget helped support Italian government bond markets and the euro on Wednesday.
The newspaper La Stampa said Salvini was ready to reduce the planned spending on a citizen’s income and the unwinding of a previous pension reform.
PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY
For the day the Dow is trading at 24,465.64 with a loss of -2.21% percent or -551.80 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,641.89 with a loss of -1.82% percent or -48.84 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 6,908.82 with a loss of -1.70% percent or -119.65 point.
WORLD MARKETS
Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,469.01 with a loss of -1.84% percent or -27.53 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 928.33 with a loss of -1.84% percent or -17.41 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,807.92 with a loss of -1.69% percent or -31.08 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,169.94 with a loss of -1.97% percent or -23.55 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,555.42 with a loss of -1.78% percent or -28.19 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,459.17 with a loss of -1.78% percent or -26.38 point;