A restrengthening of the US Dollar alongside falling oil prices sent US markets back-tracking on Thursday with export-orientated and energy stocks hit hardest.
Oil prices are edging down again on Friday but weakness in the US dollar is helping US stocks refocus on what looks to be a longer period of easy monetary policy and a supportive environment for risk-taking. As such, US markets look like making a higher open on Friday.
Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) shares are expected to open higher after the sports-apparel company reported better than expected quarterly profits although it did miss on revenues. The company has cited the strong dollar as a reason for the revenue decline in has forecasted similar headwinds for 2015
Shares of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) ripped to new all-time highs above $82 on Thursday following positive feedback on its new payment feature that could be a major source of new revenue outside of online ads. There has also been talk of possible approval of use inside China which would not be unsurprising since CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg has been wooing the country for years.
The US has granted Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) a permit for testing unmanned drones for possible usage in parcel delivery. Shares of United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE:UPS) and FedEx are left exposed by the use of drones by their biggest client that could someday eclipse traditional delivery methods.
Futures suggest the:
S&P 500 will open 6 points higher at 2,095 with the
Dow expected to open 85 points higher at 18,044 and the
Nasdaq 100 16 points higher at 4,442.
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