Global retreat continues as US-China tensions resurface

Dmitry Lukashov IFC Markets

Top daily news

Global equities are falling today after a down session on Thursday with US Labor department report showing nearly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last nine weeks. Investors confidence was undermined also by rising US-China tensions as a bipartisan bill was introduced in US Senate that would sanction Chinese officials if they enforce a new national-security law in Hong Kong.

Forex news

Currency Pair	Change
EUR USD	-0.17%
GBP USD	-0.53%
USD JPY	-0.25%
AUD USD	-0.21%

The Dollar strengthening continues 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, added 0.3% Thursday despite report initial jobless claims jumped another 2.44 million last week. EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s continued sliding yesterday with both pairs lower currently as data showed euro-zone’s economic activity contracted less drastically in May while UK retail sales fell by a record 18% over year in April. USD/JPY reversed sliding yesterday while AUD/USD turned lower with both pairs down currently.

Stock Market news

Indices	Change
Dow Jones Index	-0.75%
Hang Seng Index	-3.44%
Australian Stock Index	-1.24%

Futures on three main US stock indexes are in the red currently after a pullback Thursday. Earnings season is nearing the end with another batch of companies including John Deere, Hang Seng Bank and Fujifilm Holdings reporting quarterly results today. Stock indexes gave back part of previous session gains on Thursday led by technology shares: the three main US stock indexes recorded losses ranging from 0.4% to 1.0%. European stock indexes are falling today after ending solidly lower Thursday led by bank stocks. Asian indexes are falling today after reports China is planning to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong. Heng Seng sank 5.7%.

Commodity Market news

Commodities	Change
Brent Crude Oil	-5.91%
WTI Crude	-7.02%

Brent is pulling back today. Oil prices edged higher yesterday after the Energy Information Administration report Wednesday crude inventories at the storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, fell by about 5.5 million barrels for the week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ended higher yesterday: June WTI gained 1.3% but is lower currently. July Brent crude closed 0.9% higher at $36.06 a barrel on Thursday.

Gold Market News

Metals	Change
Silver	+0.6%

Gold prices are recovering today. June gold lost 1.7% to $1721.90 an ounce on Thursday.

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Author

Dmitry Lukashov

IFC Markets

Dimtry Lukashov is the senior analyst of IFC Markets. He started his professional career in the financial market as a trader interested in stocks and obligations.

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