US stocks advance persists - 8.1.2019

Dollar weakens after ISM services index miss

US stock market advance continued on Monday after a sharp rebound Friday following Fed Powell’s dovish comments. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 2549.69. Dow Jones industrial added 0.4% to 23531.35. The Nasdaq composite index rallied 1.3% to 6823.47. The dollar weakening accelerated as the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index declined to 57.6% in December from 60.7%, below an expected 58.7%: 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 0.5% to 95.648 but is higher currently. Stock index futures point to higher openings today.

DAX 30 falls less than other European indexes

European stock markets pulled back on Monday on weak German manufacturing data as British lawmakers prepare to vote on Prime Minister May's Brexit plan on January 15. The advance of both EUR/USD and GBP/USD continued but both pairs are currently lower. The Stoxx Europe 600 index lost 0.2%. The DAX 30 slipped 0.2% to 10747.81 as data showed industrial orders in Germany dropped by more than expected in November. France’s CAC 40 slumped 0.4% and UK’s FTSE 100 slid 0.4% to 6810.88.

NIKKEI best performer among Asian indices

Asian stock indices are mixed today as the second day of mid-level US-China trade negotiations were under way in Beijing. Nikkei rose 0.8% to 20204.04 with yen continuing its decline against the dollar. Chinese shares are mixed: the Shanghai Composite Index is down 0.3% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index was flat with Australian dollar turning lower against the greenback.

HK50 breaches out of descending channel 01/08/2019 Market Overview IFC Markets chart

Brent down

Brent futures prices are edging lower today with supply cuts from major oil producer countries providing support. Prices rose yesterday after a report Saudi Arabia plans to cut its crude exports by 800,000 barrels a day from around 7.9 million barrels a day in November, hoping to lift prices above $80 a barrel. February Brent crude rose 0.5% to $57.33 a barrel on Monday.