SHANGHAI, Aug 10 (SMM) — This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.

The dollar edged up on Monday to touch the highest in more than two weeks against a basket of currencies, buoyed by upbeat U.S. data, even as traders kept a close watch on the spread of Covid-19 cases in the United States.

The U.S. dollar index was last up 0.09% at 92.937, its highest since July 23 and not far from its four-month high of 93.194.

Data Monday showed U.S. job openings jumped to a record high in June and hiring increased. That came on the heels of Friday’s U.S. monthly jobs report that showed U.S. employers hired the most workers in nearly a year in July and continued to raise wages.

The dollar rose sharply following Friday’s report, with the upbeat jobs news helping to support the view that the Federal Reserve may act more quickly to tighten U.S. monetary policy. Fed officials have made a jobs market recovery a condition of tighter monetary policy.

Bitcoin hit its highest in nearly three months. It was last up 5.7% at $46,352.66, while ether was up 5.27% at $3,174.27.

On Wall Street, U.S. stock futures were little changed on Monday night after the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell from record highs in regular trading amid concerns about a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 22 points, or 0.04%. S&P 500 futures ticked up 0.01% and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.03%.

During regular trading, the Dow fell 106.66 points to 35,101.85, or 0.3%. The S&P 500 traded down 0.1% at 4,432.35. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.16% to 14,860.18.

Energy stocks led the declines after oil prices fell 4% amid fears that a wave of Covid cases could lead to a demand slowdown. Recovery plays including Norwegian Cruise Line and United Airlines were down as well.

Oil prices slid Monday, building on last week’s steep losses, as rising Covid cases prompted fears of a demand slowdown.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures declined more than 4% at one point to trade as low as $65.15, a level not seen since May. The contract recovered some of those losses during afternoon trading and ultimately settled 2.64% lower at $66.48 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude settled at $69.04 per barrel for a loss of 2.35%, after hitting a low of $67.60.

Gold slumped to a more than four-month low on Monday, as strong U.S. jobs data bolstered expectations for an early tapering of the Federal Reserve’s economic support measures.

Spot gold shed 2.1% to $1,725.96 per ounce by 1:40 p.m. ET. U.S. gold futures settled 2.1% down at $1,726.50.

Silver was caught in gold’s slipstream and hit its lowest in more than eight months, at $22.50 per ounce. It was last down 4% to $23.35.

Shares in Asia-Pacific nudged higher in Tuesday morning trade following overnight declines for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 on Wall Street.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally ended up 0.2%, with healthcare stocks adding 1% to lead gains while autos sank 0.6%.

The muted start to the trading week in Europe echoed sentiment in Asia-Pacific, where markets were mixed on Monday.

Data out of China Monday showed the country’s export growth unexpectedly slowed in July while imports also lost momentum.