Global equities trade mixed after mixed US data - 18.11.2021

The Dollar weakening is intact currently. The live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, lost 0.1% Wednesday as Census Bureau reported housing starts fell more than expected while building permits grew stronger than forecast.

GBP/USD accelerated its climbing on Wednesday while EUR/USD continued sliding as UK consumer price index (CPI) inflation came in at an annual 4.2% in October, its highest for almost a decade. Both pairs are higher currently. USD/JPY joined AUD/USD’s continued declining Wednesday with both the Australian dollar and yen higher against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are rising currently after all three major indices ended lower Wednesday despite good earnings reports from retailers. The three main US stock indexes booked losses ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%.

European stock indexes are mixed currently after ending mixed Wednesday as the European Central Bank warned of overvaluations in property and financial markets. Asian stock indexes are mostly falling today with Hang Seng leading losses dragged by tech stocks.

Brent is down currently after reports United States has asked some of the world’s largest oil consuming nations including China, India and Japan to consider releasing crude stockpiles. Prices ended down Wednesday despite the US Energy Information Administration report domestic crude stockpile fell unexpectedly by 2.1 million barrels last week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures dropped 3% and is lower currently. Brent crude declined 1.7% to $81.05 a barrel on Wednesday.