Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, March 23:
1. All eyes on Trump's health care vote
Headlines from Washington will continue to be in focus on Thursday, as the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act later in the day, with the votes needed for passage in doubt.
Trump was to meet at the White House with members of the Freedom Caucus on Thursday at 11:30AM ET, the White House said.
The Freedom Caucus, a key group of House Republicans, has threatened to not back the Obamacare replacement bill, unless the language in it changes dramatically.
Investors see the Trump administration's struggles to push through the healthcare overhaul as a sign he may also face setbacks delivering on the promises for tax cuts, regulatory reform and infrastructure spending.
2. Fed Chair Yellen speaks
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is due to deliver opening remarks at the Fed's System Community Development Research Conference in Washington DC at 8:45AM ET (12:45GMT).
Traders are hoping she will offer insight into the likelihood of higher interest rates in the months ahead.
The U.S. central bank raised interest rates on Wednesday last week, but stuck to its outlook for two more hikes this year, instead of three expected by the market.
Fed fund futures priced in around a 48% chance of a rate hike in June, according to Investing.com’s Fed Rate Monitor Tool. Odds of a September increase was seen at about 75%.
Minnepolis Fed President Neel Kashkari and Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan are also on tap Thursday.
Besides the Fed speakers, Thursday's calendar also features reports on initial jobless claims and new home sales.
3. Dollar index remains below 100
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, recovered slightly to 99.65 by 5:50AM ET (09:50GMT), after falling to a seven-week low of 99.43 in the prior session.
Against the yen, the dollar was steady at 111.10 after plumbing 110.72 on Wednesday, the weakest level since November 22.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields were little changed, with the benchmark 10-year note yield at 2.410%. Yields fell to a three-week low of 2.375% on Wednesday.
4. Global markets in holding pattern
U.S. stock market futures pointed to a muted open on Thursday morning, ahead of a crucial vote on the Republican healthcare bill in the U.S. in what is a major test for President Trump.
In Europe, stocks were mixed in subdued mid-morning trade, as markets were still jittery after the terrorist attack perpetrated in London on Wednesday.
Earlier, in Asia, markets ended modestly higher, with the Shanghai Composite in China closing up around 0.1%, while Japan's Nikkei added about 0.2%.
5. Oil prices bounce off November lows
Oil prices ticked higher on Thursday, after touching their lowest level since the end of November as the market weighed record-high stockpiles in the U.S. against efforts by major producers to cut output to reduce a global glut.
U.S. crude was up 30 cents, or about 0.6%, to $48.33 a barrel, while Brent rose 31 cents to $50.95.
Oil has fallen sharply this month amid concern that the ongoing rebound in U.S. shale production could derail efforts by other major producers to rebalance global oil supply and demand.