Markets advance after US stocks edged higher - 12.8.2024

The Dollar is steady 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 0.1% lower on Friday.

EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s slowed climbing on Friday. Both Pound and euro are higher against the Dollar currently. Both AUD/USD and USD/JPY reversed their advancing on Friday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and Australian dollar higher.

US stock indexes futures are up currently after ending higher on Friday. The three main US stock benchmarks recorded daily gains in a range from 0.1% to 0.5% after a rally the previous day following better than expected initial jobless claims data.

European stock futures are rising after closing up on Friday led by healthcare shares. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly advancing today with Australia’s ASX 200 index defying the trend in thin trading as Japan’s markets are closed for a holiday.

Brent is extending gains currently. Prices ended higher on Friday on supply concerns over fears of a widening Middle East conflict. US West Texas Intermediate WTI rose 0.9% and is higher currently. Brent added 0.6% to $79.66 a barrel on Friday. For the week Brent gained more than 3.5%, while WTI rose more than 4%.