US stock indexes close at fresh highs
US stock indices ended at new record highs on Tuesday as positive economic data buoyed risk appetite. The dollar was little changed: 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, inched up 0.01% to 93.619. The S&P 500 added 0.2% settling at record high 2534.58. Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4% closing at fresh all-time high 22641.47, posting fifth straight daily gain. The Nasdaq composite index gained 0.2% to new record high 6531.71.
European stocks extend gains
European stocks closed higher on Tuesday in aftermath of Catalonia independence referendum. The euro inched higher against the dollar and British Pound extended losses. The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.2% . German market was closed for Unity Day holiday. France’s CAC 40 closed 0.3% higher and UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.4% to 7468.11.
Asian markets mixed
Asian stock indices are mixed today in thin trading with China and South Korea markets closed for week-long holidays. Nikkei inched up less than 0.1% to 20626.66 as yen rebounded against the dollar. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is up 0.7%. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is down 0.8% as Australian dollar climbed against the greenback.
Oil slips ahead of US inventory report
Oil futures prices are lower today ahead of official US crude oil inventory report. The American Petroleum Institute industry group reported late Tuesday US crude stocks fell by 4.1 million barrels last week while gasoline stockpiles rose 4.2 million barrels. Prices fell yesterday: December Brent crude fell 0.2% to $56 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange on Tuesday. Today at 16:30 CET the Energy Information Administration will release US Crude Oil Inventories.