The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.97   up with +0.18% percent or +0.17 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 27,235.00 up with +0.12% percent or +34.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,997.88  up  with +0.05% percent or +1.62 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,939.88 up with +0.09% percent or +7.38 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The U.S. dollar recovered slightly in early Friday trading, having fallen heavily after dovish comments from a key policymaker bolstered expectations of an aggressive interest rate cut this month.

That sent the dollar down before it rebounded slightly after a New York Fed representative subsequently said Williams’ comments were academic and not about immediate policy direction.

Investors took Williams’ remarks along with separate comments from Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida as another dovish signal from the central bank, which could be opening the way for a big rate cut at the end of this month.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 27,222.97  up with +0.011% percent or +3.12 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,995.11 up with +0.36%percent or +10.69 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,207.24 up with +0.27% percent or +22.04 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,555.62  up with +0.31% percent or +4.85 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 942.66 up with +0.19% percent or +1.78 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,943.60  up with +0.32% percent or +6.13 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,323.72  up with +0.29% percent or +3.87 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,760.16 up  with +0.35% percent or +6.16 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,659.38  up with +0.35% or +5.86 point.