Equity snapshot (indices)

Equities are mixed today, North American counterpart is lagging Europeans. Shredding some of the gains before FOMC minutes. Performance this week at a glance in chart & table -

S&P 500 -

• US benchmark is once again treading water around resistance area of 2080. Price has broken the levels several times, however failed to decisively close above such.
  
• Initial jobless claims came at 281K, up from prior 267K. Continuing job claims fell to 2.304 million from 2.327 prior.
  
  
• SPX500 is currently trading at 2079, down -0.25% today so far. Stronger dollar is posing challenge for the index to rise. Immediate support lies at 1980, 2040 and resistance 2120, 2164. 2100 is expected to provide psychological resistance.

FTSE -

• FTSE is up around 1% today, currently trading around 7000 level. Weaker trade statistics, further eased rate hike expectation.
  
  
• BOE left policy unchanged.
  
  
• Important support lies at 6700 and resistance at 7060.

DAX -

• DAX is trading in green today, as payments made by Greece to IMF lift mood of investors.
  
  
• German trade balance for February came at € 19.7 billion, up 0.1 billion from January. Import grew at faster pace of 1.8% Industrial production grew 0.2% m/m in February.
  
  
• Index is trading at 12135, up nearly 0.85% today. Immediate support lies at 11830, 11750, and resistance at 12200.

EuroStxx50 -

• Stocks across Europe are all trading in green today.

• Germany is up (+0.85%), France's CAC40 is up (+1.13%), Italy's FTSE MIB is up (+0.65%) and Spain's IBEX is up (+0.53%).

• EuroStxx50 is currently trading at 3778, up 0.6% today. Broader trend remains upwards. Support lies at 3635, 3545.

Nikkei -

• Nikkei is the best performer this week, trading once again in green today. Weaker yen is providing support. Possibilities are high price might move towards target around 20800.
  
  
• Machine tools orders grew 14.6% y/y in March.
  
  
• Nikkei is currently trading at 19923. Immediate support lies at 19630, 18540 and resistance at 19920, 20800. 20000 level might provide psychological resistance.