The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.83 with a loss of -0.09% percent or -0.10  point.The Dow Futures is trading at 28,625.00 up with +0.05% percent or +15.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,239.88 up with +0.07% percent or +2.38 point.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 8,785.50 up with +0.03%  percent or +2.25 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 28,645.26  up with +0.083% percent or  +23.87 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,240.02 up with +0.0034% percent or +0.11 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,006.62  with a loss of –0.17% percent or -15.77  point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,669.03 with a loss of -0.51%  percent or -8.64 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 1,018.87  with a loss of –0.47% percent or -4.83 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 2,062.88  with a loss of –0.22% percent or -4.45   point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,447.47 up with +0.014% percent or  +0.20 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,897.24  with a loss of –0.053% percent or -1.00 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,789.20  with a loss of –0.020% or -0.36 point.