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PowerShares DBmmodity Index Optimum Yield Diversified Fund

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PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Asia And Europe Markets Rise, US Dollar Rebounds - Global Markets Today While US Slept

Asia Ex-China and Europe Markets Gain, Gold Retreats To $2,310 Amid Diminished Geopolitical Tensions - Global Markets Today While US Slept

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Asia Ex-China And Europe Markets Rise; Gold Falls And Dollar Gains Amid Easing Middle East Conflict Fears - Global Markets Today While US Slept

Ishares MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap ETF

On Tuesday, April 23rd, the U.S. stock markets closed higher, boosted by strong earnings from major companies and interest in&nbsp;key&nbsp;growth stocks.&nbsp;
Tesla launched new EV models and reported lower-than-expected revenue,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38394792/tesla-stock-surges-despite-ugly-q1-results-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">yet its stock surged 6% after hours</a>.
According to the economic data, the S&amp;P Global composite PMI dropped to 50.9 in April from 52.1 last month. Meanwhile, new single-family home sales rose 8.8% in March to an annualized rate of 693,000, rebounding from a 5.1% drop in February.
Ten of the 11 S&amp;P 500 sectors advanced, with notable gains in the communication services and technology sectors. However, the Materials sector declined.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.69% to close at 38,503.69. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.20%, ending the day at 5,070.55, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.59%, finishing the session at 15,696.64.
Asian Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index finished the trading day higher by 2.26% at 38,410.50, led by gains in the Power, Gas &amp; Water, and Transportation Equipment sectors.</li>
<li>The Japanese stock market ended significantly higher on Wednesday, extending its winning streak to three days; the rally&nbsp;was fueled&nbsp;by positive sentiment from Wall Street&#8217;s overnight gains, driven by strong corporate earnings.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 closed slightly lower by 0.01% at 7,683.00, led by losses in the Utilities, Industrials and IT sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed higher by 0.20% at 22,413.05, and the Nifty 500 rose 0.41%, closing at 20,736.90.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite gained 0.76% to end the session at 3,044.82, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.44%, closing at 3,521.62.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index gained 2.21%, concluding the day at 17,201.27.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:15 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was up 0.40%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.25%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC increased 0.42%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded higher by 0.57%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 06:15 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 0.44 % at $82.99/bbl, and Brent was down 0.09% at $87.08 bbl.</li>
<li>Natural Gas gained 0.62% to $2.107.</li>
<li>Gold was trading lower by 0.49% at $2,330.60, Silver declined 0.58% to $26.203, while Copper was up 0.76% at $4.4685.</li>
</ul>
US Futures at 06:15 AM ET&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Dow futures were down 0.05%, S&amp;P 500 futures rose 0.08%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.48%.
Forex at 06:15 AM ET
The U.S. dollar index rose 0.17% to 105.58, the USD/JPY rose 0.06% to 154.91, and the USD/AUD declined 0.26% to 1.5378.
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

On Monday, April 22nd, the U.S. stock markets closed higher, with the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq rebounding after six days of losses. The markets recovered from a recent sell-off as investors looked forward to key quarterly earnings reports, expected to provide insights into the condition of the U.S. economy.
According to economic data, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to +0.15 in March, up from a revised +0.09 the previous month and exceeding market expectations of +0.09.
All 11 S&amp;P 500 sectors finished in green, with technology and financial stocks leading the gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.67% to close at 38,239.98. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.87%, ending the day at 5,010.60, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.11%, finishing the session at 15,451.30.
Asian Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index ended the trading day higher by 0.28% at 37,563.00, led by gains in the Mining, Chemical, Petroleum &amp; Plastic and Warehousing sectors.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 gained 0.45% to finish at 7,683.50, led by gains in the IT, healthcare, and&nbsp;financials&nbsp;sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed higher by 0.14% at 22,368.00, and the Nifty 500 rose 0.38%, closing at 20,652.65.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite slid 0.74% to end the session at 3,021.98, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 fell 0.70%, closing at 3,506.22.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index gained 1.92%, concluding the day at 16,828.93.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:00 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was up 0.80%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.82%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC increased 0.36%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded higher by 0.31%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 06:00 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 0.04% at $81.94/bbl, and Brent was up 0.09% at $87.08 bbl.</li>
<li>Natural Gas gained 0.68% to $2.079.</li>
<li>Gold was trading lower by 1.56% at $2,309.90, Silver declined 1.85% to $26.740, while Copper was down 1.63% at $4.4023.</li>
<li>Gold prices declined in Asian trading on Tuesday, continuing profit-taking due to reduced geopolitical concerns in the Middle East and less safe-haven demand, compounded by a stronger dollar and the potential for sustained high U.S. interest rates.</li>
</ul>
US Futures at 06:00 AM ET&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Dow futures were up 0.02%, S&amp;P 500 futures rose 0.07%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.14%.
Forex at 06:00 AM ET
The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.03% to 106.11, USD/JPY was down 0.01% to 154.82, and USD/AUD gained 0.02% to 1.5510.
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

S&P Global/CIPS U.K. Services Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary 54.9 Vs. 53.0 Est.; 53.1 Prior

S&P Global/CIPS U.K. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary 48.7 Vs. 50.3 Est.; 50.3 Prior

S&P Global/CIPS U.K. Composite Purchasing Managers' Index Preliminary 54.0 Vs. 52.8 Prior

On Friday, April 19th, the U.S. stock markets closed mixed, influenced by a decrease in&nbsp;Netflix&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) shares, although American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) provided support to the Dow following their respective earnings announcements. Additionally, market mood was affected by skepticism regarding a forthcoming rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
Netflix&#8217;s Q1 earnings, revenue, and subscriber count exceeded forecasts, but it warned of a potential Q2 subscriber dip due to seasonality and issued lower-than-expected revenue guidance,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38330086/netflix-stock-tumbles-analyst-says-streaming-giant-doing-everything-right-but-growth-factor-doesnt-" rel="noreferrer noopener">though its EPS outlook was higher than anticipated</a>.
In economic data,&nbsp;Baker Hughes Inc.&nbsp;reported that the total count of active U.S. oil rigs rose by 5 to 511 this week.
Most S&amp;P 500 sectors ended higher, led by gains in financial, utilities, and energy stocks, while information technology and communication services sectors fell.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.56% to close at 37,986.40. The S&amp;P 500 slid 0.88%, ending the day at 4,967.23, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.05%, finishing the session at 15,282.01.
Asia Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Monday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index ended the trading day higher by 0.99% at 37,459.50, led by gains in the Mining, Chemical, Petroleum &amp; Plastic and Warehousing sectors.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 gained 1.08% to finish at 7,649.20, led by gains in the Healthcare, Telecoms Services and IT sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed higher by 0.86% at 22,336.40, and the Nifty 500 rose 0.93%, closing at 20,574.85.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite slid 0.67% to end the session at 3,044.60, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 fell 0.30%, closing at 3,530.90.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index gained 1.77%, concluding the day at 16,511.69.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:15 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was up 0.47%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.66%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC increased 0.32%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded higher by 1.46%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 06:15 AM ET
Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 0.67% at $81.67/bbl, and Brent was down 0.63% at $86.75 bbl.
Oil prices dropped on Monday, shifting focus to market fundamentals as Israel and Iran downplayed escalation risks after Israel&#8217;s limited strike on Iran.
Natural Gas was down 0.60% at $1.976.
Gold was trading lower by 1.66% at $2,373.75, Silver declined 3.33% to $27.883, while Copper was up 0.61% at $4.5245.
US Futures at 06:15 AM ET&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Dow futures were up 0.48%, S&amp;P 500 futures rose 0.59%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.73%.
Forex at 06:15 AM ET
The U.S. dollar index rose 0.03% to 106.19, the USD/JPY rose 0.07% to 154.74, and the USD/AUD declined 0.38% to 1.5531.
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

U.K. Retail Sales (MoM) For March 0.0% Vs. 0.3% Est.; 0.1% Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (YoY) For March 0.8% Vs. -0.3% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (YoY) For March -0.3% Vs. 0.3% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (MoM) For March 0.4% Vs. -0.4% (Revised) Prior

On Wednesday, April 17, the U.S. stock markets ended lower amid dropping oil prices, cautious Federal Reserve comments, and geopolitical tensions despite mixed earnings. Tech stocks led the Nasdaq lower.
Economic data showed that U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 2.735 million barrels for the week ending April 12, a decrease from the 5.841 million barrel rise observed the week before.
Most S&amp;P 500 sectors fell, with the largest declines in tech, real estate, and consumer discretionary, while utilities and consumer staples rose.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.12% to close at 37,753.31. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.58%, ending the day at 5,022.21, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.15%, finishing the session at 15,683.37.
Asian Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Thursday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index finished the trading day higher by 0.14% at 38,054.50, led by gains in the Transportation Equipment, Pharmaceutical Industry, and Marine Transport sectors.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 gained 0.48% to finish at 7,642.10, led by gains in the Metals &amp; Mining, IT and Materials sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed lower by 0.69% at 21,995.85, and the Nifty 500 fell 0.48%, closing at 20,324.70.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite index gained 0.09% to end the session at 3,074.22, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.12%, closing at 3,569.80.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index rose 0.82%, concluding the day at 16,385.87.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:15 AM ET
The European STOXX 50 index was up 0.29%.
Germany&#8217;s DAX declined 0.16%.
France&#8217;s CAC climbed 0.31%.
U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded higher by 0.20%.
Commodities at 06:15 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 1.01% at $81.32/bbl, and Brent was down 0.95% at $86.46 bbl.</li>
<li>Oil prices fell as investors reacted to potential avoidance of Middle East conflict and demand worries, alongside hopes for moderated Israeli retaliation against Iran.</li>
<li>Natural Gas was up 2.69% at $1.758.</li>
<li>Gold was trading higher by 0.23% at $2,393.85, Silver rose 0.46% to $28.532, and Copper was up 1.75% at $4.4150.</li>
</ul>
US Futures at 06:15 AM ET&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Dow futures were up 0.17%, S&amp;P 500 futures gained 0.19%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.23%.
Forex at 06:15 AM ET
The U.S. Dollar Index slid 0.05% to 105.91, USD/JPY was up 0.04% to 154.44, and USD/AUD slipped 0.14% to 1.5518.
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

Asia And Europe Markets Recover While Crude Oil Slides - Global Markets Today While US Slept

On Tuesday, April 16th, the U.S. stock markets ended mixed. Wall Street experienced a decline amid volatile trading, driven by increasing Treasury yields and investor worries about high interest rates in the face of ongoing inflation.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that, given recent inflation data, interest rates may need to stay higher for longer than expected.
According to economic data, March&#8217;s industrial production rose by 0.4%, matching the previous month&#8217;s increase. However, building permits fell 4.3% to an annual rate of 1.458 million, and housing starts dropped 14.7% to an annual rate of 1.321 million.
Related:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/04/38278182/powell-delays-fed-rate-cuts-we-need-greater-confidence-in-inflation-2-year-yields-spik" rel="noreferrer noopener">Powell Delays Fed Rate Cuts, Says &#8216;We Need Greater Confidence In Inflation&#8217;: 2-Year Yields Spike To 5%</a>
The S&amp;P 500 mostly ended lower, with utilities, real estate, and energy sectors leading the declines, and information technology and consumer staples stocks saw gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.17% to close at 37,798.97. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.21%, ending the day at 5,051.41, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.12%, finishing the session at 15,865.25.
Asian Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index ended the trading day lower by 1.22% at 38,001.00, led by losses in the Shipbuilding, Chemical, Petroleum and plastic, and Insurance sectors.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 declined 0.09% to finish at 7,605.60, led by losses in the Energy, Healthcare, and Materials sectors.</li>
<li>India Markets closed for Shri Ram Navmi holiday.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite gained 2.14% to end the session at 3,071.38, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 1.55%, closing at 3,565.40.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index increased slightly by 0.02%, concluding the day at 16,251.84.</li>
<li>Asian stocks mostly saw modest declines Wednesday, influenced by diminishing hopes for U.S. interest rate cuts and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s comments about persistent inflation. Nevertheless, Chinese markets rose on signs of economic recovery and optimism over further stimulus.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:00 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was up 0.89%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.76%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC climbed 1.25%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded higher by 0.53%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 06:00 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 1.01% at $84.50/bbl, and Brent was down 0.96% at $89.13 bbl.</li>
<li>Natural Gas was down 3.00% at $1.680.</li>
<li>Gold was trading higher by 0.02% at $2,408.65, Silver rose 0.85% to $28.620, and Copper was up 0.55% at $4.3275.</li>
</ul>
US Futures at 06:00 AM ET&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Dow futures were up 0.38%, S&amp;P 500 futures gained 0.35%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.22%.
Forex at 06:00 AM ET
The U.S. Dollar Index slid 0.09% to 106.16, USD/JPY was down 0.10% to 154.56, and USD/AUD slipped 0.43 % to 1.5554.
Photo via Shutterstock

Asia Markets Ex-China Decline, While Europe Gains; Gold Surpasses $2,400 - Global Markets Today While US Slept

U.K. Producer Price Index Input (MoM) For March -0.1% Vs. 0.1% Est.; -0.3% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Consumer Price Index (YoY) For March 3.2% Vs. 3.1% Est.; 3.4% Prior

U.K. Consumer Price Index (MoM) For March 0.6% Vs. 0.6% Prior

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/hunt-says-rate-cuts-would-lift-uk-mood-hints-at-fall-vote">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/hunt-says-rate-cuts-would-lift-uk-mood-hints-at-fall-vote</a>
<ul>
<li>UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt speaks in Bloomberg interview</li>
<li>Hunt says interest rate cuts would bring ‘feel-good factor'</li>
</ul>
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said the prospect of interest rate cuts later this year would lift the mood of voters, hinting that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak won't call a general election until the fall.
"The feel-good factor as interest rates start to come down, as people start to feel higher real disposable incomes, will be stronger in people's minds come the early autumn than it is now," Hunt said on Tuesday in a Bloomberg TV interview. "People have been through a very bruising period."

'Jeremy Hunt Says Rate Cuts Would Lift UK Mood, Hints At Fall Vote' - Bloomberg News

On Monday, April 15, the U.S. stock markets ended lower, wiping out initial gains fueled by a robust March retail sales report amid surging Treasury yields and escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.&nbsp;
As per economic data, U.S. retail sales rose by 0.7% in March after a 0.9% increase in February, while the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index improved to -14.3 in April from -20.9 the previous month.
The S&amp;P 500 experienced its most significant percentage fall since January 31, despite the early uplift from encouraging retail figures.
All 11 major S&amp;P sectors were down, with the interest-rate-sensitive real estate and utilities sectors being among the hardest hit.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.65% to close at 37,735.11. The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.20%, ending the day at 5,061.82, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.79%, finishing the session at 15,885.02.
Asian Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 index ended the trading day lower by 1.88% at 38,470.50, led by losses in the Paper and pulp, Retail, and Chemical, Petroleum and plastic sectors.</li>
<li>In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 declined 1.81% to finish at 7,612.50, led by losses in the Consumer Discretionary, Metals &amp; Mining, and Utilities sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed lower by 0.56% at 22,147.90, and the Nifty 500 slid 0.27% to 20,423.00.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite declined 1.65% to end the session at 3,007.07, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 fell 1.07%, closing at 3,511.11.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s economy grew by 5.3% in Q1 2024, surpassing expectations due to government stimulus and a boost in business activity. Quarter-on-quarter growth was 1.6%.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index slid 2.12%, concluding the day at 16,248.97.</li>
<li>Asian stocks fell as strong U.S. March retail sales lifted the dollar to five-month highs, suggesting the Fed might delay rate cuts. Geopolitical tensions drove up gold and oil, with eyes on China&#8217;s GDP data.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 06:45 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was down 1.35%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX declined by 1.27%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC slid 1.26%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 traded lower by 1.37%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 06:45 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 0.52% at $84.97/bbl, and Brent was down 0.47% at $89.68 bbl.</li>
<li>Natural Gas was up 0.47% at $1.700.</li>
<li>Gold was trading higher by 0.13% at $2,385.85, Silver fell 1.33% to $28.337, and Copper was down 1.51% at $4.3125.</li>
</ul>
US Futures at 06:45 AM ET&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Dow futures were up 0.25%, S&amp;P 500 futures slid 0.11%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures declined 0.18%.
Forex at 06:45 AM ET
The U.S. dollar index gained 0.06% to 106.27, the USD/JPY rose 0.19% to 154.56, and the USD/AUD rose 0.43 % to 1.5590.
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

Geopolitical Tensions Weigh On World Markets, Dollar Index And Gold Show Strength - Global Markets Today While US Slept

U.K. Unemployment Rate For February 4.2% Vs. 4.0% Est.; 3.9% Prior

U.K. Employment Change 3M/3M (MoM) For February -156K Vs. -21K Prior

U.K. Claimant Count Change For March 10.9K Vs. 17.2K Est.; 4.1K (Revised) Prior

The Bank of England is right to draw a distinction between the UK and US inflation outlook, and we expect the first rate cut to be in August or maybe even June.

Bank Of England Set To Cut Rates Before The Fed As Officials Turn Dovish

London stocks had a strong start to the week, rebounding from the previous week's selloff.

FTSE On The Front Foot As MIddle East Tensions Recede

European markets in green with London index touching an all-time high

UK's flash composite PMI rises to 54 points in April

The FTSE 100 has reached a record high, reflecting the global forces driving commodity prices rather than the performance of the British economy.