Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The Nasdaq Composite (+0.33%) is up about 69 points, just off session highs.

Gold futures settled $37.90 lower (-1.1%) at $3,335.60/oz, today's losses taking the yellow metal into negative territory (-0.7%) on the week; the move lower was driven by growing optimism around U.S. trade negotiations, particularly signs of progress in deals with the EU and Japan, which lifted risk appetite and reduced safe-haven demand for gold. Meanwhile, a softening U.S. dollar and expectations for potential Fed rate cuts in September helped cushion the downside.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index is up about +0.2% to $97.71.