The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.40  with a loss of -0.18% percent or -0.17  point. The Dow Futures is trading at 24,625.00 up with +0.68% percent or +167.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,653.12  up with +0.73% percent or +19.12 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 6,741.25 up with +0.99% percent or +66.25 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The euro was headed for a second weekly decline on Friday after the head of the European Central Bank said economic growth was likely to be weaker than previously expected.

ECB President Mario Draghi blamed factors ranging from China’s slowdown to Brexit for the slowdown. The central bank left the bloc’s interest rates unchanged on Thursday.

The euro, which has traded in a range of $1.12 to $1.16 for the past three months, weakened as investors questioned whether the ECB would be able to raise interest rates this year, as its current guidance indicates.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 24,553.24  with a loss of -0.091% percent or -22.38 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,642.33 up with +0.14% percent or +3.63 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,073.46 up with +0.68% percent or +47.69 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,464.41 up with +0.70% percent or +10.15 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 912.68  up with +0.61% percent or +5.50  point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,799.23  up with +0.70% percent or +12.59 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,167.43   with a loss of -0.033% percent or -0.38 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,558.88  up with +0.24% percent or +3.79 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,462.98  up with +0.21% percent or +3.04  point