UK PRE MARKET

The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at  7,690.50 with a loss of -0.23% percent or -17.50 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,453.37 with a loss of –0.38% percent or  20.54 point . The DAX Futures is trading at 12,862.00 up with +0.16%percent or +21.00 point . The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures is trading at 3,476.00 up with +0.09% percent or      +3.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks were set for a muted open on Wednesday as investors eyed the latest UK inflation data and a policy announcement from the Federal Reserve.

The FTSE 100 was called to open two points higher at 7,705.

The Fed is due to make its latest policy announcement after the close of UK markets, at 1900 BST. With market participants expecting the central bank to hike rates by 25 basis points for the second time this year, the main event will be the quarterly economic projections and the press conference with chair Jerome Powell.

“The jury is still out whether the US central bank will hike interest rates in September and December or just December. The press conference could provide clues as to what the Fed will do at the back end of the year,” said CMC Markets analyst David Madden.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY
For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,695.41 with a loss of  –0.12% percent or –9.35 point. France’s CAC 40 closed at 5,453.37  with a loss of –0.38% percent or –20.54 point. Germany’s DAX closed at 12,842.30 with a loss of -0.0048% percent or  –0.61point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,320.73  with  a loss of –0.0062% percent or –1.58 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,786.85 up with  +0.17% percent or  +4.85 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,703.79 up with +0.57% percent or  +43.87 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,966.38 up with +0.38% percent or +28.03 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 30,791.36 with a loss of –1.00% percent or –309.50 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,049.80 with  a loss of –0.97% percent or –30.01 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 35,804.97 up with +0.31% percent or  +110.87 point at 12:15 PM.