The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 97.22 with a loss of -0.32% percent or -0.31 point.The Dow Futures is trading at 28,621.40 up with +0.37% percent or +105.94 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,239.91 up with +0.51% percent or +16.53 point.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 9,022.39 up with +0.78% percent or +69.51 point.
TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS
The dollar hovered near a six-month high versus the Japanese yen while the Australian dollar climbed to its strongest since July on Friday, buoyed by easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions.
The optimism around prospects for a Phase 1 trade deal reduced demand for safe-haven currencies such as the yen, but with global currency markets in a holiday mood after Christmas Day on Wednesday, overall trading activity was mostly subdued.
Beijing said on Wednesday it is in close touch with Washington on a trade deal signing ceremony, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a ceremony to sign the agreement.
PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY
For the day the Dow is trading at 28,621.39 up with +0.37% percent or +105.94 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,239.91 up with +0.51% percent or +16.53 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,022.39 up with +0.78% percent or +69.51 point.
WORLD MARKETS
Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,677.67 with a loss of -0.02% percent or -0.34 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 1,023.70 with a loss of –0.097% percent or -0.99 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 2,067.33 up with +0.29% percent or +5.97 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,447.27 up with +0.71% percent or +10.17 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,898.24 up with +0.46% percent or +8.60 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,789.56 up with +0.49% or +8.71 point.