Markets in Europe are softer but U.S. stock futures are mostly flat.
Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1. Dollar falls to 5-week lows
1. Dollar falls to 5-week lows
The dollar fell to five week lows against a basket of the other major currencies on Wednesday as markets continued to adjust to diminished expectations for a near term rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed).
Fed chair Janet Yellen said earlier this week that the central bank plans to raise interest rate hikes, but gave no indication on the timing in a step back from the wording of “in the coming months” she employed in a May 27 speech.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.13% at 93.72, the lowest level since May 5.
2. China trade
2. China trade
Data from China gave investors reason to believe the world's second biggest economy may be on the mend. Trade did slowdown in May, but the numbers were stronger than last month and the country's imports rose in yuan terms for the first time since 2014.
3. World Bank slashes growth forecast
3. World Bank slashes growth forecast
After the close on Tuesday, the World Bank cut its global growth forecast to 2.4% in 2016, from the prior 2.9%, due to stubbornly low commodity prices, sluggish demand in advanced economies, weak trade and diminishing capital flows.
In the U.S., a steep decline in energy sector investment and weaker exports will also shave eight tenths of a percentage point from the World Bank’s 2016 forecast, bringing growth to 1.9%.
4. Markets overview
4. Markets overview
European markets are declining in early trading, while Asian markets ended the session mixed. The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 added 0.1% on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq declined 0.1%.
