The energy services firm Baker Hughes announced today that the US crude oil drilling rigs count rose 6 rigs to 211 during this week.

While the natural gas rigs fell by 1 to 73 rigs, with the total of oil and gas rigs rising by 5 to 287 rigs.

Copper prices fell on Friday, despite the US dollar's fall against most of its peers, weighed down by technical sales and profit-taking from yesterday's jump above $7,000/tonne in LME.

Investors are anticipating the release of China's official inventories data, amid expectations that Beijing increased its stocks of the red metal due to concerns over the second wave of the coronavirus infections.

Otherwise, no agreement has been reached on the US second Covid-19 aid package, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hinted the progress has been made in the negotiations.

The dollar index fell against a basket of currencies by 0.1% to 92.8 points as of 14:42 GMT, after hitting a high of 93.1 and a low of 92.6.

Copper December futures fell 0.4% to $3.13 per pound as of 14:43 GMT, with a day high of $3.16 and a low of $3.12.

The major US stock saw a mixed opening on Friday, after the release of positive data, amid broad anticipation of the latest developments in the ongoing talks about the US second Covid-19 aid deal.

The US manufacturing PMI rose slightly to 53.5 points in October, on par with market forecasts, from 53.2 points in September.

Ms. Pelosi stated that progress was made during negotiations with the White House and they're "just about there" on reaching the second Covid-19 stimulus deal, but warned that it’ll take a while to write the bill.

As for stocks, Dow Jones rose 0.1% or 15 points to 28,380 as of 15:02 GMT, and S&P 500 rose 0.1% or 4 points to 3,458, while Nasdaq fell 0.4% or 50 points to 11,455.

The US dollar fell against a basket of currencies on Friday, to resume losses after it took a breather yesterday within recovery attempts from a 7-week low, to head today for the largest weekly loss since July, as demand slowed due to the progress made in the ongoing political talks about the US second fiscal stimulus package, ahead of the release of key US data, which provide insight about the US economic recovery pace during the fourth quarter.

The dollar index fell 0.3% to 92.68 points, after opening at 92.92 points, and hit an intraday high of 93.12 points.

The greenback gained 0.3% yesterday, posting its first daily gain in 5 days, within recovery attempts from a 7-week low of 92.47 points.

The US dollar has lost more than 1.1% so far this week, to head for the third weekly loss in a month, and the largest loss since mid-July.

The biggest weekly loss in 3 months came due to strong market sentiment, as investors focused on other high-risk currencies, amid hopes the US Congress will pass the new Covid-19 aid package, ahead of the presidential election in November.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that progress she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were "just about there" on reaching the second Covid-19 stimulus deal.

This raised hopes about passing the second fiscal stimulus package in the US Congress before the next presidential elections in November.

Investors are waiting for the release of the US manufacturing PMI reading at 12:30 GMT, with forecast to rise to 53.5 points in October vs. 53.2 points in September, and the service PMI reading is expected to rise to 54.7 points in October vs. 54.6 in September.