The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 97.53  with a loss of  -0.02% percent or -0.02 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 25,758.00  up with +0.33% percent or +84.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,864.38  up with +0.33% percent or +9.38 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,554.75  up with +0.34% percent or +25.50 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The Australian dollar hit a fresh five-month low on Thursday as investors came close to fully pricing in a rate cut for July on bruising domestic economic data and a swelling trade conflict between the United States and China.

In Europe, the Swedish crown led losses while optimism on the euro proved short-lived with trade tensions and upcoming European elections weighing on sentiment.

But it was the Aussie dollar that was firmly in focus after Australian unemployment rose to its highest in eight months, cementing views its central bank may be forced to lower rates soon to stimulate the economy.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,648.02  up with +0.45% percent or +115.97    point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,850.96 up with +0.58% percent or +16.55 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,822.15 up with +1.13% percent or +87.65 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,548.27 up with +0.34% percent or +5.21 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 946.06 up with +0.14% percent or +1.29 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,899.98  up with +0.27% percent or +5.06 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,262.30  up with +0.79% percent or +9.89 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,680.91 up with +0.57% percent or +9.45 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,579.88  up with +0.58% or +9.15 point.