Stocks rise ahead of US inflation data - 31.1.2025

The Dollar strengthening has halted today. The live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, ended 0.2% higher on Thursday.

GBP/USD joined EUR/USD’s accelerated sliding yesterday while the European Central Bank implement the fifth consecutive interest rate cut. Both euro and Pound are higher against the dollar currently. Both USD/JPY and AUD/USD accelerated their retreating on Thursday with the yen lower against the Greenback currently and Australian dollar higher.

US stock index futures are higher currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes up at 4.541%. The three main stock benchmarks ended higher on Thursday recording daily gains in a range from 0.22% to 0.53% amid mixed quarterly reports while president Trump said the United States will put a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, two of the US's top trading partners.

European indexes futures are up today after stock indexes closed higher yesterday while statistics agency Eurostat reported the euro zone economy recorded zero growth in the fourth quarter. Asian stock indexes futures are mostly rising today with Australia’s All Ordinaries index defying the trend while data showed Japan's industrial production unexpectedly rose in December, and retail sales grew more than expected as consumer price index inflation in Tokyo rose as expected.

Brent is edging lower currently. Prices ended higher on Thursday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures added 0.2% but are lower currently. Brent futures rose 0.4% to $76.87 a barrel on Thursday.