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NQ, ES and the other indices all opened higher.

The above is a CFD reflecting ES. It had a huge bounce from lows on Wednesday, carrying on after Globex reopened.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

Gross domestic product was expected to rise at a 0.4% annualized pace in the first quarter, according to the Dow Jones consensus estimate.

Companies slowed hiring sharply in April as they braced against potential impacts from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Via BNP Paribas analysts, looking for a stronger euro still:

• “If European investors agree with our view that there could be a rotation out of U.S. assets with the euro a key beneficiary, hedge ratios could rise or dollar asset allocations could be reduced.”
• could drive a higher EUR/USD
• the sensitivity of the euro to rotation out of U.S. equities into Europe could be higher than it has been in the past due to eurozone investors’ larger stocks of U.S. equity holdings now

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

UK business confidence improved to its highest level since September 2023, according to the latest Institute of Directors (IoD) syrvey

• The IoD’s confidence index rose from -58 in March to -51 in April.

• Hiring expectations turned positive for the first time since September, while investment intentions also picked up.

• Chief economist Anna Leach said concerns remain over US trade policy uncertainty and cost pressures from the prior UK budget.

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The survey was conducted among 648 UK business leaders between April 11–29, after the tariff pause was announced.

• The results contrast with earlier April surveys showing weakening sentiment among businesses and consumers.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs “create a significant economic headwind” for First Solar’s plants in India, Malaysia and Vietnam, CEO Mark Widmar said.