Asian markets (excluding Japan) rise, Europe opens higher, gold hits new high as dollar weakens – Global markets today while the US slept – SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF (ARCA:ADIV)

U.S. stock markets closed higher on Friday, August 16. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted their seventh consecutive session of gains, rebounding from a recent sell-off sparked by weak economic data and recession fears. Investor sentiment was boosted by positive economic indicators and growing optimism that the Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates in September.

According to economic data, U.S. housing construction began to decline in July, falling 6.8% to 1.238 million, while building permits fell 4% to 1.396 million. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index rose to 67.8 in August, beating expectations.

Most sectors of the S&P 500 closed higher, led by financials, technology and utilities, while industrials and energy stocks closed lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.24% to close at 40,659.76. The S&P 500 ended the day up 0.20% at 5,554.25 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.21% to end the session at 17,631.72.

Asian markets today

• On Monday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 2.01% lower at 37,362.50, mainly due to losses in the transportation equipment, warehousing and fishing sectors.
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.12% to end the day at 7,980.40, led by gains in the gold, utilities and financials sectors.
• India’s Nifty 50 gained 0.16% to close at 24,579.90 and the Nifty 500 closed 0.40% higher at 23,150.15.
• China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.49% to end the session at 2,893.67, and the Shenzhen CSI gained 0.34% to close at 3,356.97.
• The Hang Seng in Hong Kong ended the session up 0.80% at 17,569.57.

Eurozone at 06:00 ET

• The European STOXX 50 index rose 0.35 percent.
• The German DAX rose by 0.06 percent.
• The French CAC rose 0.33%.
• The British FTSE 100 traded 0.08 percent lower.

Commodities at 6:00 a.m. ET

• Crude oil WTI traded 0.90% lower at USD 74.86/barrel and Brent lost 0.86% to settle at USD 79.03/barrel.
• Oil prices fell on Monday on concerns about weaker demand in China and ongoing ceasefire talks in the Middle East that could reduce supply risks.
• Natural gas rose 0.19% to $2.127.
• Gold traded 0.02% higher at $2,537.90, silver gained 0.66% to $29.045 and copper rose 1.22% to $4.1935.

US futures at 6:00 a.m. ET

Dow futures rose 0.04%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.06% and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.16%.

Forex at 6:00 a.m. ET

• The US dollar index fell 0.27% to 102.18, USD/JPY lost 0.83% to 146.36 and USD/AUD lost 0.33% to 1.4953.
• The yen rose as the dollar weakened, amid expectations of dovish signals from the US Federal Reserve and possible interest rate cuts. The dollar’s decline is also influenced by the expected political divergence between the US and Japan.

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