The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.24  with  a loss of -0.74% percent or -0.71  point. The Dow Futures is trading at 23,292.50  with  a loss of -0.09% percent or -20.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,503.38 with a loss of -0.04% percent or -1.12 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 6,352.50  with a loss of -0.09% percent or -5.75 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar fell towards a 10-day low on Thursday against its rivals as concerns grew the United States may be heading for a sharp economic slowdown next year despite the Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the fourth time in a year.

Although U.S. policymakers have said they may raise interest rates three times by early 2020, the U.S. bond yield curve — a widely considered indicator of future recessions — flattened to 10 basis points and just a shade above a 11-year low set earlier this month.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 23,323.66  with a loss of  -1.49% percent or -351.98 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,506.96  with  a loss of -1.54% percent or -39.20 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 6,636.83  with a loss of -2.17% percent or -147.08 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,349.23  with a loss of -2.03% percent or -27.95 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 840.46 with a loss of -2.14% percent or -18.40 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,665.72  with a loss of -1.71% percent or -29.05 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,113.55 with  a loss of -1.63% percent or -18.48 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,472.18   with a loss of -1.57% percent or -23.54 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,384.27  with a loss of  -1.54% percent or -21.64 point;