The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 95.30 with a loss of -0.10% percent or -0.10 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 24,932.50 with a loss of -0.14% percent or -35.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,681.62 with a loss of -0.03% percent or -0.88 point. The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 6,849.75 up with +0.18% percent or +12.50 point.
TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS
Household goods fell the most on the back of earnings. Unilever dropped 2 percent after reporting lower-than-expected fourth-quarter sales. Swatch also fell more than 6 percent after what analysts called disappointing full-year results.
Overall, investors are still digesting comments from the Federal Reserve. Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank would be “patient” in increasing rates. The indication of a slower hiking cycle is generally positive for stocks.
PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY
For the day the Dow is trading at 25,014.86 up with +1.77% percent or +434.90 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,681.05 up with +1.55% percent or +41.05 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,183.08 up with +2.20% percent or +154.79 point.
WORLD MARKETS
Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,486.94 up with +1.05% percent or +15.49 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 926.29 up with +1.01%percent or +9.22 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,827.21 up with +0.62% percent or +11.20 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,180.56 up with +1.72% percent or +19.91 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,583.04 up with +1.49% percent or +23.32 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,485.67 up with +1.53% percent or +22.38 point