Dow closes at record high
US stocks inched higher on Thursday after President Trump nominated Jerome Powell as the new Fed chairman. The dollar weakened as the House Republicans’ tax plan was unveiled: 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, fell 0.1% to 94.708. Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4% to 23516.26, new all-time high. The S&P 500 gained less than 0.1% to 2579.85. The NASDAQ Composite index meanwhile lost less than 0.1% closing at 6714.94.
European stocks pull back
European stock indices pulled back on Thursday as losses from health and technology stocks outweighed gains from bank stocks. The euro climbed against the dollar while British Pound slumped. The Stoxx Europe 600 index closed 0.5% lower. Germany’s DAX 30 lost 0.2% to 13440.93. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1% while UK’s FTSE 100 jumped 0.9% to 7555.32. Indices opened mixed today.
Asian markets mixed
Asian stock indices are mostly higher today as investors await the US jobs report. Japanese markets are closed for a holiday. Chinese stocks are mixed: the Shanghai Composite Index is 0.4% lower despite a Caixin report China services sector grew faster in October. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is up 0.4%. Australia’s ASX All Ordinaries is up 0.5% as Australian dollar pared most previous day gains against the greenback.
Oil higher
Oil futures prices are higher today. Prices rose yesterday on data showing a decline in US crude and gasoline stockpiles. Brent for January settlement rose 0.2% to end the session at $60.62 a barrel on Thursday.
