The U.S. Dollar Index is trading at 99.87 with a loss of -0.06% percent or -0.06 point.The Dow Futures is trading at 23,722.00 up with +0.63% percent or +148.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,867.12 up with +0.51% percent or +14.62 point.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 9,137.50 up with +0.65% percent or +59.25 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The dollar was on the defensive against its rivals on Wednesday as traders looked to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech amid rising speculation the United States could one day adopt negative interest rates.

The New Zealand dollar fell to this week’s low after the country’s central bank expanded its asset purchase program and indicated readiness to take further steps — including negative interest rates.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the Dow is trading at 23,764.78  with a loss of -1.89% percent or -457.21  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,870.12  with a loss of –2.05% percent or -60.20 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,002.55 with a loss of -2.06% percent or -189.79  point.

WORLD MARKETS
Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,275.54 with a loss of –3.46% percent or -45.70 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 728.74 with a loss of –3.70% percent or −28.02 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,604.80 with a loss of –3.53% percent or -58.68 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,322.87 with a loss of –1.89% percent or -25.54 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,662.81 with a loss of –2.19% percent or -37.23  point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,582.12 with a loss of –2.11% or -34.13 point.