Stocks mixed after Wall Street advance resumed - 2.12.2024

The Dollar has resumed strengthening 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, ended 0.4% lower on Friday.

EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s accelerated climbing on Friday while statistics agency Eurostat reported euro zone inflation rose from 2% in October to 2.3% in November. Both Pound and euro are lower against the Dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing while AUD/USD accelerated its climbing on Friday with both the yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

US stock indexes futures are lower currently after resuming advances on Friday as markets opened following Thanksgiving holiday. The three main US stock benchmarks closed higher recording daily gains in the range from 0.2% to 0.4% with SP 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average notching record closing highs.

European stock futures are mixed after closing higher on Friday led by tech shares. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index leading losses after Chinese stocks closed higher following data release indicating China's factory activity expanded in November.

Brent is steady currently. Prices ended lower on Friday on easing of concerns over supply risks from the Israel-Hezbollah conflict as ceasefire that took effect on Wednesday has reduced oil's risk premium. US West Texas Intermediate WTI lost 1.05% and is little changed currently. Brent slid 0.46% to $72.94 a barrel on Friday. For the week, the Brent declined 3.1% while WTI lost 4.8%.