FTSE Futures Morning Update on 24 April 2019

The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,456.00  with a loss of -0.14% percent or -10.50 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,524.50  with a loss of -0.19% percent or -10.50 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 12,249.00  with a loss of -0.15% percent or -18.80 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,428.00 with a loss of -0.23% percent or -8.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.9% at 7,523.07, breaching through the 7,500 level for the first time since October, while the pound was down 0.3% against the dollar at a two-month low of 1.2940 and 0.1% firmer versus the euro at 1.1566, with cross-party Brexit talks resuming as MPs returned to Westminster after the Easter break. Investors were also mulling over reports of growing pressure from the Conservative Party for May to resign.

Meanwhile, oil prices were at 2019 highs, with Brent crude up 0.5% at $74.41a barrel and West Texas Intermediate 1.2% higher at $66.36.

Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: “Oil markets are jumpy again with the White House calling the end to waivers on Iran sanctions from May 1st. Suddenly, we’re back to supply uncertainty being a graver threat than demand uncertainty. This risks a very real prospect of an abrupt spike in prices if there is not enough supply to fill the gap.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,523.07  up with +0.85% percent or +63.19 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,591.69 up with +0.20% percent or +11.31 point. Germany’s DAX closed at 12,235.51 up with +0.11% percent or +13.12  point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 26,656.39  up with +0.55% percent or +145.34 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,933.68 up with +0.88% percent or +25.71 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,120.82 up with +1.32% percent or +105.56 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,200.00  with a loss of -0.27% percent or -59.74 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 29,841.23  with a loss of -0.40% percent or -119.33   point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,201.41 up  with +0.088% percent or +2.82 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 38,639.67  up with +0.19% percent or +74.79 point at 12:15 PM.