StockMarketWire.com - Heading into the European market close, a risk-on sentiment has prevailed as stocks move higher, seeing a decline in the safer currencies, such as the US dollar (USD) with the dollar index falling -0.25% to 81.66, and a higher S&P 500 +0.89% to 1,510. Yesterday's rally in gold has also retraced with the precious yellow metal down $8.86 on the day.

The dollar pared losses but remained lower against the euro on Wednesday afternoon after a mixed January showing in US core durable and durable goods orders. The dollar even failed to rally despite a much better-than-expected showing in US home sales.

EUR 1.3100, JPY 91.82, CHF 0.9312, NOK 5.7056, GBP 1.5132, CAD 1.0253 and SEK 6.4470, AUD 1.0193 and NZD 0.8228. In keeping with the historical inverse relationship with stocks and market risk US equity indexes all pushed higher with the S&P 500 up 0.89% 1,510, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIJA) up 0.8% 1,4010 and the NASDAQ composite +1.05% 3,162.

There was little in the way of European macroeconomic data releases during the European session, but no doubt that the 17-nation single currency will be impacted as European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi gives his address at 17:30GMT. Ahead of the speech the euro is trading positively, up against the majority of its counterparts. The largest euro moves have been seen in the EUR/AUD +0.54% at A$1.2842 and EUR/NZD +0.54% N$1.5907.

At market close:


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