Macro Roundup (Jun 28)

SHANGHAI, Jun 28 —This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.

The dollar found support from investors worried about recession and seeking safety to hold just below a two-decade high on Monday, having slipped late last week after downbeat U.S. economic data reduced bets on U.S. interest rate hikes.

While Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher, currency traders were wary of extending Friday’s dollar selling because the dollar typically rises in times of uncertainty.

The risk-sensitive Australian dollar eased 0.3% to $0.6918, weighed down by sliding commodity prices. The euro was pinned at $1.0563, though the beaten-down yen steadied to 134.68 per dollar.

The U.S. dollar index was steady at 104.010, having made a 20-year peak of 105.79 earlier in the month.

Weakening U.S. economic data knocked it off that perch, and a survey released on Friday showed consumer confidence at a record low, giving another prompt for investors to cut back bets on U.S. interest rate hikes.

Stock futures rose slightly in overnight trading Monday following a losing day as investors prepare to rebalance their portfolios with the end of the quarter fast approaching.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 36 points. S&P 500 futures edged up 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.3%.

The overnight action followed modest losses on Wall Street as a comeback rally stalled. The blue-chip Dow fell about 60 points, while the broader benchmark, the S&P 500, dipped 0.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.7%. The major averages rallied last week, posting their first positive week since May.

Oil prices traded higher on Monday in a volatile session as investors waited for any moves against Russian oil and gas exports that might come out of a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in Germany.

Brent crude futures ended the day 1.74% higher at $115.09 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled $1.95, or 1.8%, higher at $109.57 per barrel.

Gold prices steadied on Monday, helped by a weaker dollar as recession fears persisted, while investors watched for any cues on policy moves at the European Central Bank’s forum in Portugal.

Spot gold slipped 0.22% to $1,822.30 per ounce while U.S. gold futures slid 0.36% at $1,823.7.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally ended 0.6% higher, having traded up more than 1% earlier in the session. Mining stocks rose over 2% to lead the gains.