US markets in red as FOMC weights, dollar firmly up

US equities are trading in red on Thursday, as the uncertainty about the direction of the Fed’s next steps are weighting on sentiment. Softer-than-expected US Manufacturing PMI and Philly Fed Survey are also collaborating in the downside. The greenback continues its march north fuelled by increasing risk aversion, currently navigating the area around 81.40 after hitting tops above 81.60
DowJones is down 0.42%, followed by the S&P500 and the Nasdaq, falling 0.63% and 1.04%, respectively.

European stocks finished in the red territory on Thursday, hammered by the tone from the FOMC minutes and the worrisome prints from the manufacturing/services PMIs in the euro area. The French benchmark took the brunt of the sell-off, dipping 2.29% while the DAX and the IBEX35 just followed suit, down 1.88% and 1.82% respectively on the day. The single currency is hovering over the key level at 1.3200, after posting fresh multi-week lows around 1.3170

Commodities are trading mixed at the moment, with the barrel of WTI extending losses to $94.77 or 1.96%. The ounce troy of gold is posting meagre gains at $1578 or 0.04%, still undermined by the ‘death cross’ feeling.