Macro Roundup (May 18)

SHANGHAI, May 18 —This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.

The dollar eased for a third straight day on Tuesday, pulling back from a two-decade high against a basket of major peers, as an uptick in investors’ appetite for riskier bets diminished the U.S. currency’s safe-haven appeal.

Upbeat earnings views from Home Depot and United Airlines along with optimism around the easing of China’s crackdown on tech and Covid-18 helped to lift risk sentiment.

The U.S. Dollar Currency Index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.7% at 103.39, its lowest since May 6. The index hit a two-decade high last week supported by a hawkish Federal Reserve and worries over the global economic fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Tuesday evening as investors looked to build on a solid rally.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average added just 9 points. S&P 500 futures sat below the flatline and Nasdaq 100 futures ticked about 0.1% lower.

The move in futures came as the stock market’s recent sell-off appeared to have paused. On Tuesday, the Dow rose 431 points, or 1.3%, while the S&P 500 gained 2% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed nearly 2.8%.

The Dow has declined for seven straight weeks, but stocks have stabilized over the last three trading sessions.

Last week, the S&P 500 fell to the brink of a bear market — or 20% below its record high — but the index has now gained 4% since Thursday’s close.

Oil prices jumped over $115 a barrel on Tuesday, their highest in about seven weeks, as the European Union kept pushing for a ban on Russian oil imports that would tighten supply.

Prices retreated and were slightly lower after Reuters reported that sources said U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration will authorize as soon as Tuesday for U.S. oil company Chevron Corp to negotiate with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government, temporarily lifting a ban on such discussions.

Brent crude traded 1.97% lower at $111.99, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled $1.80, or 1.58%, lower at $112.40 per barrel.

Earlier, Brent rose to a session high of $115.69, its highest since March 28. WTI hit $115.56 per barrel, highest since March 24. Prices have gained by around 20% since Russia’s invasion.

Gold edged lower on Tuesday as robust U.S. retail sales data and expectations of aggressive interest rate increases outweighed support from a pullback in the dollar.

Spot gold fell 0.2% to $1,821.09 per ounce by 1:27 p.m. ET, while U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $1,819.70.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 1.2% by the close, with basic resources climbing 3.5% to lead gains as almost all sectors and major bourses finished in positive territory.

The war in Ukraine remains a key focus for market sentiment in Europe, with fighting raging in the east and southeast of the country.