In European Equity Markets stocks fell slightly on Thursday, weighed down by a pull-back in banking and mining stocks in a day where trading activity was dominated by a raft of company earnings. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended down 0.1 percent after hitting a 14-month high in the previous session. Germany’s DAX fell 0.4 percent. Shares in British bank Barclays reversed course during the day to end down 2.6 percent, as a surprise boost to its capital reserves failed to convince. Dialog Semiconductor rose 6.9 percent, the biggest gainer on the STOXX. The maker of chips that go in Apple’s and Samsung’s smartphones said it expected “good revenue growth” in 2017.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar fell against a basket of major currencies on Thursday on a perceived lack of progress on U.S. tax reform and public spending, while Wednesday’s more dovish-than-expected Federal Reserve meeting minutes continued to weigh on the greenback. The dollar fell as much as 0.5 percent against the yen to a six-day low of 112.66 yen, while the euro rose as much as 0.3 percent against the dollar to $1.0587. Sterling rose 0.29 percent to $1.2496. The Australian and New Zealand dollars remained stronger, with Aussie up 0.25 percent at $0.7720 and with Kiwi climbing 0.57 percent to $0.7231. The dollar index was last down 0.2 percent at 101.020.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose but gains were pared Thursday after U.S. government data showed a seventh straight build in crude stocks, suggesting high inventories could undermine OPEC’s move to cut output. Benchmark Brent crude oil rose 81 cents a barrel to $56.65 after touching a high of $57.26. U.S. light crude traded up 75 cents at $54.34 a barrel after touching $54.94 a barrel. U.S. crude stocks rose 564,000 barrels last week, its seventh consecutive rise, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed on Thursday, although less than previously expected. Spot gold was on track for its biggest daily gain since Feb. 6, rising 0.9 percent to $1,249.05 an ounce, its highest since Nov. 11.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed course after hitting record intraday highs late Thursday morning as losses in tech stocks offset the impact of a rise in oil prices. The Dow was down 0.02 percent, at 20,771.99, the S&P 500 was down 0.17 percent, at 2,358.6 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.7 percent, at 5,819.32. Shares of L Brands plunged 16.7 percent after the company reported weak sales at Victoria’s Secret, its biggest business by revenue. Boston Scientific lost 3.4 percent after the company recalled its Lotus Valve heart devices, citing reports of problems with the locking mechanism. Shares of rival Edwards Lifesciences rose 4 percent.

In Bond Markets yields on U.S. Treasuries fell on Thursday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he wants to see a major tax plan passed before Congress by August, but failed to give details about it. In morning trade, U.S. 10-year notes were last up 8/32 in price to yield 2.389 percent, compared with 2.418 percent late on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year bond prices rose 8/32, yielding 3.023 percent, down from Wednesday’s 3.036 percent. U.S. two-year note prices were up 2/32, yielding 1.192 percent, down from 1.224 percent.