Euro drops, global equities rise as ECB's Draghi hints of more stimulus

London (June 18)  The euro fell against the dollar on Tuesday, while European stocks and U.S. stock futures rose after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi indicated the bank is ready for more stimulus if the euro-area economy doesn't improve, at a conference in Portugal. Draghi said the risk outlook for the European economy "remains tilted to the downside, and indicators for the coming quarters point to lingering softness," in prepared remarks for an ECB Forum in Sintra. "In the absence of improvement, such that the sustained return of inflation to our aim is threatened, additional stimulus will be required," he said. The euro [s:eurusd] was last down 0.3% against the dollar to $1.182, while the Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.97% rose 0.7% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures YMU19, +0.51% gained 75 points, or 0.3%, to 26,208. S&P 500 futures ESU19, +0.54% rose 8.95 points or 0.3%. Gold prices GCQ19, +0.74% gained $6.70, or 0.5%, to $1,349 an ounce.

MarketWatch