US equity markets exhibited limited movement Monday, concluding the trading day with modest adjustments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 44,911 points, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous session’s close.
The broader S&P 500 index settled around 6,445 points, down a fraction of a point, while the Nasdaq 100 registered a slight gain, concluding the day at approximately 23,715 points.
Market reticence appears linked to ongoing diplomatic discussions surrounding the situation in Ukraine, currently underway at the White House. Initial optimism fuelled by anticipation of a planned meeting between US President and his Russian counterpart later this week has moderated, following a lack of concrete outcomes from initial talks. Investors now appear to be adopting a ‘wait-and-see’ approach.
Looking ahead, market participants are also keenly anticipating earnings reports from major retail companies, including Walmart and Home Depot, later in the week. These reports are expected to provide further insight into current consumer sentiment within the US economy.
In currency markets, the Euro weakened slightly against the US dollar, trading at 1.1667 dollars per Euro. Conversely, the dollar was valued at 0.8571 Euros.
The price of gold experienced a minor decrease, trading at 3,334 US dollars per troy ounce, down 0.1 percent. This translates to a price of 91.88 Euros per gram.
Crude oil prices, however, rose modestly. Brent crude, the North Sea benchmark, closed at 66.50 US dollars per barrel, an increase of 65 cents, or 1.0 percent, from the previous day’s closing price.