The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 96.52 with a loss of -0.23% percent or -0.22 point.The Dow Futures is trading at 28,458.50 up with +0.07% percent or +18.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,225.62 up with +0.07% percent or +2.12 point.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 8,738.75 up with +0.06% percent or +5.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar dipped to a near three-week low against the yen in thin year-end volume on Tuesday as investors favored riskier assets, led by renewed optimism about global growth.

The greenback was off 0.2% at 108.64 against the Japanese yen, the weakest since Dec. 12 and on track for its third straight session of losses.

The dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of rivals, was a shade weaker at 96.695.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 28,462.14  with a loss of –0.64% percent or –183.12 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,221.29  with a loss of –0.58% percent or -18.73 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,945.99  with a loss of –0.67% percent or -60.62  point.

WORLD MARKETS

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,664.15 with a loss of –0.29%  percent or -4.88 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 1,018.02  with a loss of –0.083% percent or -0.85 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 2,060.72  with a loss of –0.10% percent or -2.16   point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,438.14 with a loss of –0.64% percent or  -9.33 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,886.66  with a loss of –0.56% percent or -10.58 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,778.89 with a loss of –0.58% or -10.31 point.