Equities advance following another Wall Street dip after Fed stood pat - 30.1.2025

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 0.06% on Wednesday.

GBP/USD reversed its sliding and EUR/USD slowed its retreating yesterday as German government downgraded its gross domestic product forecast to just 0.3% growth in 2025. Both Pound and euro are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY reversed its advancing while AUD/USD slowed its sliding on Wednesday with the yen higher against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar lower.

The US stock index futures are up currently ahead of unemployment benefits and advance GDP reports at 14:30 CET. US stocks ended lower on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily losses in a range from -0.5% to -0.3% as Fed left its key lending rate unchanged as widely expected.

European stock indexes are mixed currently as traders expect the European Central Bank will cut interest rates 25 basis points at 14:15 CET today. Stock indexes closed up on Wednesday led by technology shares. Asian stock indexes futures are rising currently in thin trading with Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 All Ordinaries index leading gains while markets remained shut for holidays in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Brent is edging down presently. Prices extended losses on Wednesday as the Energy Information Administration reported US crude inventories rose by above expected 3.46 million barrels last week. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures lost 1.6% and are lower currently. Brent crude slid 1.2% to $76.58 a barrel on Wednesday.