Equities mixed ahead of US PMI reports - 21.2.2025

The Dollar weakening has reversed today. 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 0.9% lower on Thursday.

Both GBP/USD and EUR/USD reversed their sliding yesterday while the federal statistics office Destatis reported German producer prices decline continued at steady rate in January. Both euro and Pound are up against the dollar currently. USD/JPY accelerated its retreating while AUD/USD reversed its sliding Thursday with both the yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

US stock index futures are up currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes down at 4.486%. The three main stock benchmarks ended solidly lower on Thursday recording daily losses in a range from -1.0% to -0.43% amid disappointing corporate reports.

European indexes futures are mixed today after stock indexes closed mixed yesterday as statistics office Eurostat reported marginal improvement in euro area consumer confidence. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading gains as tech shares rally driven by DeepSeek's AI breakthrough continued.

Brent is edging lower currently supported by concerns on global supply disruptions after a Ukrainian drone hit Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station. Prices ended higher on Thursday despite a slightly higher than expected increase in US crude inventories: Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported US crude inventories rose by 4.6 million barrels to 432.5 million, higher than expectations of a 3.1 million barrels rise. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained 0.5% but are lower currently. Brent futures rose 0.5% to $76.48 a barrel on Thursday.