The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,148.20  up with +0.29% percent or +20.70 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,309.80  up with +0.24% percent or +12.80 point. The DAX Futures is trading at  11,468.80 up with +0.11% percent or +12.50 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,248.00 up with +0.28% percent or +9.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Traders suggested European Research Group chair Jacob Rees-Mogg was responsible for sterling perking up. Speaking on a podcast on the Conservative Home website, the hardline Brexiteer signalled that he would back Theresa May’s Brexit deal as it was “better than not leaving at all”.

“The prime minister will not deliver a no-deal Brexit,” he added. When asked if that meant the options left were “deal or potentially no Brexit”, he said: “That I think, becomes the choice eventually. Whether we are there yet is another matter, but I have always thought that no-deal is better than Ms May’s deal, but Ms May’s deal is better than not leaving at all.”

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,196.29  up with +0.28% percent or +9.00 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,307.38  up  with +0.89% percent or +46.74point. Germany’s DAX closed at 11,419.48  up with +0.64% percent or +72.83 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,657.73  up with +0.55% percent or +140.90 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,818.46 up with +0.72% percent or +20.10 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,691.52 up with +0.71% percent or +53.98 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 21,378.73 with a loss of -0.23% percent or -49.66 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 28,732.72 up with +0.58% percent or +165.81  point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,022.72 up with +0.85% percent or +25.62 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 38,445.07  up with +0.55% percent or +211.66 point at 12:15 PM.