Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Tuesday, March 28:
1. Global stocks recover as markets move on from healthcare stumble
U.S. stock market futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Tuesday morning, with the Dow looking set to snap an eight-day losing streak, as investors shook off their disappointment over the Trump administration's healthcare failure and looked toward other stimulus plans by the president.
In Europe, stocks were mostly in positive territory in subdued mid-morning trade, with Germany's DAX up around 0.6%, while London's FTSE 100 added 0.1%.
Earlier, in Asia, markets ended mixed, with the Shanghai Composite in China closing down about 0.4%, while Japan's Nikkei tacked on 1.1%, its biggest one-day gain in more than two weeks.
2. Dollar steadies after falling to 4-1/2 month lows
The dollar steadied against a basket of the other major currencies on Tuesday, a day after falling to the lowest level since November as jitters over Donald Trump's setback on healthcare reform gave way to tentative hopes for the U.S. president's planned tax cuts.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was at 99.06 in New York morning trade. It fell to 98.67 on Monday, a level not seen since November 11.
Against the yen, the dollar was little changed at around 110.70, bouncing back from a four-month low of 110.09 reached in the prior session.
Meanwhile, the euro was steady near 1.0860 against the greenback, after climbing to its highest since December 8 at 1.0905 on Monday.
3. Fed speakers, U.S. data in focus
Market players awaited comments from a number of Federal Reserve policymakers later in the day for more clues on the timing of the next U.S. rate hike.
Tuesday sees Fed Chair Janet Yellen speak on workforce development challenges in low-income communities at 9:50AM ET (13:50GMT). Kansas City Fed President Esther George, Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan and Fed Governor Jerome Powell are also on tap Tuesday.
On the data front, the U.S. will release a report on consumer confidence for March at 10AM ET (14:00GMT).
The Fed raised interest rates earlier this month, 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 45% 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 70%.
4. British pound resilient before Brexit trigger
The British pound held near one-month highs against the dollar on Tuesday, as investors braced for British Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally beginning the two-year process of exiting the European Union.
GBP/USD was at 1.2564 on Tuesday, not far from Monday's peak of 1.2618.
May will send a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday formally announcing Britain's withdrawal from the bloc.
The correspondence will start the clock ticking on a two-year countdown to Brexit and allow negotiations to start between London and Brussels in the coming weeks.
5. Oil rises as investors ponder OPEC deal extension
Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, rebounding from the prior session's losses as investors continued to ponder whether an OPEC-led production cut will be extended through the end of the year.
U.S. crude was up 38 cents, or about 0.8%, to $48.11 a barrel, while Brent added 33 cents to $51.23.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told reporters on Tuesday that a global oil cuts deal is likely to be extended beyond June, but that time is needed to discuss the subject thoroughly first.
Later Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute is due to release its weekly report at 4:30PM ET (20:30GMT).