FTSE Futures Morning Update on 18 February 2019

The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,191.80  with a loss of -0.15% percent or -10.60 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,157.20 with a loss of -0.06% percent or -3.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 11,309.80  with a loss of -0.14% percent or -16.20 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,242.50  with a loss of -0.02% percent or -0.50 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Retail sales grew 1.0% in January compared to the month before, bouncing back from the 0.7% drop in December that was revised up from the 0.9% fall originally reported. The performance was well ahead of the 0.2% rise that had been expected.

Compared to last year, sales grew 4.2%, stepping up from 3.1% in December and much better than the 3.4% that economists had pencilled in.

Excluding fuel, retail sales rose 1.2% month-on-month, rebounding from the 1% fall in December, while year-on-year this measure was up 4.1% versus 2.9% the preceding month and 3.2% consensus forecast.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,236.68  up with  +0.55% percent or +39.67 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,153.19  up with +1.79% percent or +90.67 point. Germany’s DAX closed at 11,299.80 up with +1.89% percent or +210.01 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,883.25 up with +1.33% percent or +339.98 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,775.60 up with  +1.09% percent or +29.87 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,472.41 up with +0.61% percent or +45.46 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 21,281.85 up with +1.82% percent or +381.22 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 28,357.86  up with +1.64% percent or +457.02 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,754.36  up with +2.68% percent or +71.97 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 35,643.57 with a loss of -0.46% percent or -165.38 point at 12:15 PM.