The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 99.01 with  a loss of -0.13% percent or -0.13 point. The Dow Futures is trading at 26,333.00 up with +0.75% percent or +0.75% point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,917.38 up with +0.86% percent or +24.88 point.  The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,701.50 up with +1.04% percent or +79.50 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar steadied on Wednesday as hopes for a breakthrough in U.S-China trade talks waned, sending investors into less risky assets, while the pound wallowed near a month low on deepening uncertainty over Brexit.

The U.S. imposition of visa restrictions on Chinese officials, and the blacklisting of Chinese firms, over the treatment of Muslim minorities have cast a pall over trade discussions scheduled in Washington for the rest of the week.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 26,164.04 with a loss of –1.19% percent or  –313.98  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,893.06  with a loss of –1.56% percent or –45.73 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,823.78  with a loss of –1.67% percent or -132.52 point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,472.60  with a loss of –  percent or25.19 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 912.64 with a loss of – percent or  –16.07 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,860.86 with a loss of – percent or –33.19 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,282.82 with a loss of – percent or –19.11 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,693.28 with a loss of – percent or 27.56 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,598.13  with a loss of – or 25.92 point.