SP500 falls led by technology

Dmitry Lukashov IFC Markets

Dollar weakens after weak Chicago Fed index report

US stock market pullback continued on Monday led by technology shares hurting from ban on business with Huawei Technologies. The S&P 500 lost 0.7% to 2840.23. Dow Jones industrial slid 0.3% to 25679.90. The Nasdaqcomposite tumbled 1.5% to 7702.38. The dollar weakened after data showed Chicago Fed’s national activity index slipped to a negative 0.45 in April, down from an upwardly revised positive 0.05 in March: 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, edged down 0.03% to 97.93 but is higher currently. Futures on US stock indexes point to higher openings today.

DAX 30 suffers heaviest loss among European indexes

European stocks slide accelerated on Monday as slump in technology shares dragged equity markets. BothEUR/USD and GBP/USD turned higher but are lower currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 index declined 1.2% with technology sector dropping 3%. The DAX 30 fell 1.6% to 12041.29. France’s CAC 40 tumbled 1.5%. UK’s FTSE 100 lost 0.5% to 7310.88.

Shanghai Composite leads Asian indexes gains

Asian stock indices are mixed today. Nikkei closed 0.1% lower at 21272.45 despite enduring yen slide against the dollar. Markets in China are mixed despite news US has decided to extend 90-day exemptions to some US companies from the technology export ban announced last week: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 1.2% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.1% lower. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index extended gains 0.4% as Australian dollar resumed its slide against the greenback.

HK50 testing MA(200) 05/21/2019 Market Overview IFC Markets chart

Brent up

Brent futures prices are edging higher today on US-Iran tension with global markets slump capping gains. Prices fell yesterday despite Middle East tensions: July Brent crude lost 0.3% to $71.97 a barrel on Monday.

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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.

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans.

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.