NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks and the dollar, were mixed Thursday as yet another government shutdown looms. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managing a slight gain while technology-heavy indexes faced significant pressure.
The Senate on Thursday failed to pass a vote on a government funding package which would have avoided the shutdown. Talks however on resolving differences however are continuing. "There have been very constructive discussions and conversations I've been part of, and so let's just say I'm hopeful," Senate Republican Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday.
Unless an agreement can be reached, the government will shut down on Saturday.
U.S. Indices Diverged
The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher, gaining 55.96 points, or 0.11 percent, to close at 49,071.56.
In contrast, the broader S&P 500 dipped into negative territory, falling 9.02 points, or 0.13 percent, to finish the day at 6,969.01.
The tech-focused NASDAQ Composite was the session's notable laggard, dropping 172.33 points, or 0.72 percent, to end at 23,685.12. The decline suggests a rotation out of growth-oriented sectors that have led the market's recent rally.
Market Context and Analysis
The divergent performance points to a selective and cautious market sentiment. The Dow's resilience, buoyed by gains in industrial and financial components, contrasted sharply with the sell-off in the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Analysts suggest investors may be taking profits in high-flying growth names and shifting toward more cyclical segments of the market amid ongoing economic recalibration.
Trading volume was robust, with over 3.9 billion shares changing hands on the S&P 500 and more than 6.3 billion on the Nasdaq Composite, indicating significant institutional movement during the session.
U.S. Dollar Shows Mixed Performance in Thursday's Forex Trading
The U.S. dollar turned in a mixed performance against major global currencies during Thursday's foreign exchange session, weakening against European and commodity-linked currencies while gaining ground against traditional safe-havens.
Euro and Pound Edge Higher
The euro continued its recent resilience, with EUR/USD rising 0.11 percent to trade at 1.1966. The British pound also inched forward, as GBP/USD gained a slight 0.01 percent to reach 1.3806.
Dollar Gains Against Yen and Franc
The greenback found strength against traditional safe-haven currencies. USD/JPY advanced 0.23 percent to 153.04, a multi-year high for the pair. Similarly, the dollar rose 0.29 percent against the Swiss franc, with USD/CHF reaching 0.7651.
Commodity Currencies Rally
The Australian and New Zealand dollars, often linked to global commodity demand and risk sentiment, posted solid gains. The AUD/USD pair increased 0.06 percent to 0.7044, while the NZD/USD saw a more substantial rise of 0.27 percent, trading at 0.6076.
Loonie Outperforms
The Canadian dollar was Thursday's standout performer. USD/CAD fell 0.49 percent to 1.3488, indicating significant strength in the loonie, likely supported by firm crude oil prices.
Market Outlook
Analysts noted the dollar's bifurcated performance, suggesting markets are balancing strong U.S. economic data against shifting expectations for interest rate differentials. The strength in commodity and European currencies points to a measured appetite for risk, while the dollar's gains against the yen and franc reflect a continued unwind of traditional safe-haven flows.
Global Markets Show Mixed Signals in Thursday's Session; Nikkei Hits Record High
Major global stock indices delivered a mixed performance in Thursday's trading, with European markets broadly weaker and Asia-Pacific exchanges painting a varied picture, while in the UK the FTSE 100 eked out a modest gain.
The FTSE 100 advanced 17.33 points, or 0.17 percent, closing at 10,171.76.
Canada's Market Follows Tech Lower
Canada's benchmark S&P/TSX Composite index also closed lower, shedding 159.94 points, or 0.48 percent, to settle at 33,016.13. The move lower mirrored the weakness in U.S. tech, with the TSX's own influential technology and materials sectors likely contributing to the decline.
European Indices: A Sea of Red
European equities faced significant pressure, led by Germany's DAX P, which tumbled 513.33 points, or 2.07 percent, to close at 24,309.46. The pan-European EURO STOXX 50 I followed suit, declining 0.70 percent to finish at 5,891.95.
France's CAC 40 managed a marginal gain, rising just 0.06 percent to 8,071.36. I The Euronext 100 Index was nearly flat, up a mere 0.05 percent to 1,758.35, and Belgium's BEL 20 slipped 0.13 percent to 5,373.55.
Asia-Pacific: Divergent Paths
Performance across Asian markets was split. Japan's Nikkei 225 continued its historic rally, adding 0.03 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 53,375.60. South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index also posted a strong gain, jumping 0.98 percent to 5,221.25. China's SSE Composite Index edged up 0.16 percent to 4,157.98.
Australia's benchmarks saw slight declines, with the S&P/ASX 200 down 0.07 percent to 8,927.50 and the ALL ORDINARIES falling 0.15 percent to 9,236.90. New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 INDEX fell 0.48 percent to 13,348.61.
India's S&P BSE SENSEX rose 0.27 percent to 82,566.37, while Hong Kong's HANG SENG INDEX gained 0.51 percent to 27,968.09. Singapore's STI Index advanced 0.42 percent to 4,930.03.
Other major Asian markets faced steeper losses. Taiwan's TWSE index dropped 0.82 percent to 32,536.27. Indonesia's IDX COMPOSITE fell sharply, down 1.06 percent to 8,232.20, and Malaysia's FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was the region's worst performer, plunging 1.46 percent to 1,730.89.
Middle East Markets
In the Middle East, Israel's TA-125 dipped 0.21 percent to 3,982.90. Egypt's EGX 30 Price Return Index saw minimal change, declining just 0.10 percent to 47,785.90.
Market Summary
Thursday's trading highlighted ongoing regional divergences. While European investors exhibited caution, several Asian markets built on recent strength. The record-setting Nikkei and robust gains in South Korea contrasted with sharp pullbacks in Southeast Asia, underscoring the varied economic and monetary policy outlooks influencing different regions.
(This report incorporates quotes retrieved with the assistance of artificial intelligence).
Related stories:
Wednesday 28 January 2026 | U.S. stock markets cautious after Fed leaves rates unchanged | Big News Network.com
Tuesday 27 January 2026 | S&P 500 hits record high, Dow Jones tumbles 409 points | Big News Network.com
Monday 26 January 2026 | Wall Street edges up despite hammering of U.S. dollar | Big News Network.com
Share
Tweet
Share
Flip
Email
