Binary Options Daily Review August 27, 2010
Stocks:
U.S. stocks fell Thursday as a fall in new claims for unemployment benefits offered only slight consolation to a market hammered by a recent spate of largely dismal economic reports. The question on everyone’s mind now is whether US Federal Reserve Governor Ben Bernanke will call for further stimulus dollars to keep the recovery going on a sustainable path. He will be speaking to the US congress on the matter today, which the markets will be following closely.
In trading the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 74.25 points to 9,985.81, with all but two of its 30 components ending in the red.
The S&P 500 declined 8.11 points to 1,047.22, with health-care companies and consumer staples weighing the most among its 10 industry groups. Material and industrial firms fared the best.
Currencies:
The Euro has tested support at 1.2695 session low right at European opening, which held firm and the pair bounced up to reach session high levels at 1.2740, approaching Thursday’s high at 1.2765.
On the upside, above 1.2735 session high, the pair could face resistance at 1.2765 (Aug 26 high) and then 1.2795/00 (Intra-day resistance). On the downside, immediate support lies at 1.2695 (session low), with next levels at 1.2650 (Aug 26 low) and 1.2585 (Aug 24 low).
The yen fell against the dollar and euro in Asian trading Friday after reports that Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan plans to hold a press conference later in the day to deal with the yen’s strength sparked selling on hopes that government may undertake some sort of concrete steps.
More Stimulus to Come?
Commodities Outlook:
Crude oil futures were slightly lower Friday in Asia against a backdrop of mixed regional equities, but were finding support ahead of a speech by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in which he may suggest more stimulus measures for the world’s largest economy.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in October traded at $73.31 a barrel at 0629 GMT, down $0.05 in the Globex electronic session. October Brent crude on London’s ICE Futures exchange fell $0.18 to $74.84 a barrel.
