Global markets down after Friday retreat - 29.6.2020

Global equities are in red currently after a risk off trading last week. Investors’ risk appetite appears in short supply after reports of rising coronavirus cases globally emboldened bears who drove US stock indexes to their lowest levels in about two weeks.

The Dollar strengthening has reversed 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, gained 0.04% Friday as consumer spending climbed in May to a record 8.2% after tumbling in April while personal incomes sank 4.2% last month. GBP/USD continued falling Friday while EUR/USD reversed its sliding despite report German import prices recovery was slower than anticipated in May. Both pairs are up currently. Both AUD/USD and USD/JPY reversed their sliding on Friday with both pairs lower currently.

US equity markets are edging higher today after ending sharply lower on Friday led by financial shares as Federal Reserve suspended share repurchases and cap dividend payments for banks in the third quarter following results of annual bank stress tests. The three main US stock indexes recorded daily losses ranging from 2.4% to 2.8% as Texas and Florida postponed reopening their economies on rise of new coronavirus cases. European stock indexes are rebounding currently after ending lower on Friday despite European Central Bank President Lagarde’s comment the euro zone is “probably past” the worst of the economic crisis caused by the outbreak. Asian indexes are in the red today led by Nikkei .

Brent is edging higher today. Oil prices ended lower last session as Baker Hughes reported a decline of just 1 in weekly US oil-rig count to 188. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ended marginally lower Friday: July WTI slid 0.6% and is lower currently. August Brent crude slipped 0.1% to $41.02 a barrel on Friday.

Gold prices are pulling back today. August gold rose 0.6% to $1780.30 an ounce on Friday.