Global stocks mixed on rising yields - 19.2.2021

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, fell 0.4% Thursday as US Labor Department reported 861 thousand Americans sought unemployment benefits over the last week, up from 848 thousand the previous week.

Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD reversed their retreating Thursday. Both pairs are higher currently. AUD/USD continued climbing Thursday while USD/JPY continued sliding with both Australian dollar and yen higher against the greenback currently.

Futures on three main US stock indexes are lower currently ahead of Markit’s report on US manufacturing sector activity at 15:54 CET today. Wall Street ended lower yesterday as US economy recorded a surprise increase in weekly jobless claims. Treasury Secretary Yellen said that recent signs of improvement in the US economy were no reason to scale back the administration’s $1.9 trillion relief plan because the economy remains in a “deep hole” with many people still hurting. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily losses ranging from 0.4% to 0.7%.

European stock indexes are mixed today after closing lower Thursday led by energy shares. Asian indexes are mostly lower today with Australia’s All Ordinaries ASX 200 Index leading losses as Australia’s prime minister urged Facebook to lift news blockade.