The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.38  with a loss of -0.15% percent or -0.14 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 26,046.50  up with +0.31% percent or +81.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,848.88 up with +0.30% percent or +8.38 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,382.12 up with +0.29%  percent or +21.37 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar was on the defensive on Tuesday, weighed by growing expectations the Federal Reserve would adopt a more accommodative policy outlook this week and concerns about slower U.S. economic growth.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, dipped 0.1 percent to 96.43, hovering close to a two-week low touched overnight.

The index has lost 1.3 percent after hitting a three-month high of 97.710 on March 7, on views the Fed will strike a dovish tone at its two-day policy meeting due to start later on Tuesday.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,914.10 up with +0.25% percent or +65.23 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,832.94 up with +0.37% percent or +10.46 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,714.48 up with +0.34% percent or +25.95 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,563.93 up with +0.67% percent or +10.39 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 954.97 up with +0.81% percent or +7.72 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,909.01  up with +0.69% percent or +13.15 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,252.08  up with +0.37% percent or +4.60 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,672.59 up with +0.41% percent or +6.75 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,570.24 up with +0.38% percent or +6.02 point.