US markets trading flat despite positive US data

Equity markets in the US are trading almost unchanged on Friday despite the improvement in US consumer sentiment and the NY Empire manufacturing index, as recent highs are prompting investors to think about the likeliness of a correction. Prevailing risk aversion is supporting the greenback, posting gains across the board.
At the moment, the DowJones is up 0.05%, followed by losses in the S&P500 and the Nasdaq, down 0.01% and 0.02%, respectively.

Markets in Europe closed mainly in red, with the exception of the British benchmark, printing meagre gains of 0.01% for the day. In the opposite direction, the IBEX35 lost 1.18%, seconded by the DAX, 0.49% and the CAC40, 0.25%. After a short-lived attempt to the key resistance at 1.3400, the single currency retraced those gains and is trading back to the mid 1.33s, against the backdrop of rumours, announcements and speeches stirring the ‘currency wars’ in the G20 gathering.

Commodities are suffering the increasing risk aversion, with the ounce troy of gold piercing the key $1600 level although now recovering some ground at $1608, retreating 1.67%. The barrel of WTI is following suit, falling 1.53% at $95.80