Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1. Global markets overview
1. Global markets overview
US stock futures are sitting tight, little moved from where they left off on Wednesday.
Trading has been relatively calm in the past few days, though all the key indexes - the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq - have recently inched towards record highs and then come down a bit.
The closely-watched VIX volatility index is currently sitting at 12.1, close to its lowest level in more than two years.
European markets are mixed in early trading, though the moves are muted. Asian markets are also closing out the day with a mixture of minor losses and gains.
2. Commodity review
2. Commodity review
Global oil prices are declining further Thursday after the International Energy Agency downgraded its forecast for 2017 oil demand growth by a notch. A weaker economic outlook due to the Brexit vote was partly to blame, it said. Crude futures are trading around $41 per barrel, down about 1.5% since midnight.
Meanwhile, the World Gold Council released a quarterly report on global demand trends. The Council noted that investment in gold has reached record levels, causing prices to spike by about 28% since the start of the year.
Gold is trading at about $1,351 per ounce.
3. Earnings
3. Earnings
A number of big retail firms are reporting earnings right now. Macy's, Kohl's and Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba are releasing results before the opening bell rings.
Expected after the close are Nordstrom, Dillard's, Ruby Tuesday and Planet Fitness.
4. Reserve Bank of New Zealand rates at record low
4. Reserve Bank of New Zealand rates at record low
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut interest rates a quarter point to a record low of 2.0% on Thursday and flagged the need for more cuts as it struggles to head off deflation risks.
Despite the rate cut, the New Zealand dollar surged to its highest level in more than a year against its U.S. counterpart, as there had been some speculation the RBNZ might cut interest rates by 50 basis points.
The New Zealand dollar rose to as high as $0.7343, a level not seen since May 2015, before settling back to stand at $0.7249, up 0.5%.
