Equities rise after US stocks dipped - 17.1.2025

The Dollar strengthening has resumed 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 0.2% lower on Thursday.

GBP/USD ended flat while EUR/USD reversed its sliding yesterday after the Office for National Statistics report UK gross domestic product increased by 0.1% in November. Both euro and Pound are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY slowed its retreating while AUD/USD reversed its advancing s on Thursday with both the yen and Australian dollar lower against the Greenback currently.

US stock index futures are higher currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes up at 4.611%. The three main stock benchmarks ended lower on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily losses in a range from -0.86% to -0.19% after Census Bureau data showing US retail sales grew at a slower pace than in November while Bank of America and Morgan Stanley reported strong quarterly results.

European indexes futures are up today after stock indexes closed higher yesterday with household goods shares leading gains. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly rising today with Australia’s All Ordinaries index defying the trend while gross domestic data showed China's economy recorded unexpectedly strong growth at the end of last year.

Brent is advancing currently. Prices ended lower on Thursday as maritime security officials said they were expecting the Houthi militia to announce a halt in its attacks on ships in the Red Sea after a ceasefire deal in the war in Gaza between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell 1.7% but are higher currently. Brent futures lost 0.9% to $81.29 a barrel on Thursday.