Equities down ahead of Powell testimony - 23.3.2021

IFC Markets

Master Trader
Oct 31, 2012
1,938
10
84
London (Great Britain)
www.ifcmarkets.com

Top daily news​



Stock markets are mostly in red currently following a bullish session on Monday while US 10-year Treasury yields ticked up to 1.668% ahead of testimony by Treasury Secretary Yellen and Fed Chair Powell. Tesla stocks closed up 2.31% Monday, Apple shares gained 2.83%.



Forex news​



Currency PairChange
EUR USD-0.22%
GBP USD-0.16%
USD JPY-0.12%
AUD USD-0.43%


The Dollar strengthening has resumed 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, shed 0.17% Monday as sales of existing homes in the United States fell 6.6% over month in February.

Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD reversed their sliding Monday despite German federal statistics bureau Destatis report Germany’s current account surplus rose less than expected in January. Both euro and Pound are lower currently against the Dollar. AUD/USD reversed its sliding while USD/JPY continued its retreating yesterday with Australian dollar lower against the greenback currently while yen is higher still.



Stock Market news​



IndicesChange
Dow Jones Index-0.38%
GB 100 Index+0.84%
Nikkei Index-1.36%
Hang Seng Index-1.8%
Australian Stock Index-0.03%


Futures on three main US stock indexes are lower currently ahead of Treasury Secretary Yellen and Fed Chair Powell congressional testimony at 15:00 CET today. In prepared remarks Fed Chair Powell wrote that the US recovery had progressed “more quickly than generally expected and looks to be strengthening”. The three US main stock benchmarks recorded gains ranging from 0.3% to 1.2% Monday.

European stock indexes are mixed currently after ending marginally higher yesterday while travel and leisure names took a beating Monday as fears resurfaced for a third wave of coronavirus infections in Europe. Asian indexes are mostly down today with Hong Kong’s Heng Seng Index leading losses after United States and the European Union sanctioned Chinese officials overnight for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and Beijing hit back with punitive measures against European lawmakers, diplomats, institutes and families.



Commodity Market news​



CommoditiesChange
Brent Crude Oil-0.65%
WTI Crude-0.55%


Brent is edging lower ahead of data from the American Petroleum Institute later today. Prices closed mixed Monday on rising concerns over a new wave of COVID-19 cases across Europe. The beginning of maintenance activities in refiners around the world, including China and the United States, also weighs on markets. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost 0.2%. Brent added 0.1% to $64.62 a barrel on Monday.



Gold Market News​



MetalsChange
Gold-0.16%


Gold prices are pulling back today. April gold lost 0.2% to $1738.10 an ounce on Monday.