The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,386.80  with a loss of -0.08% percent or -6.20 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,522.00  with a loss of -0.03% percent or -1.50 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 12,346.20   with +0.00% percent or +0.20 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,436.00 with 0.00% percent or 0.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Across the pond, data from the Department of Commerce showed the US economy grew much more quickly than expected at the start of the year, helped by strong contributions from household spending, exports and non-residential fixed investment.

The annual rate of growth in first quarter gross domestic product hit 3.2%following growth of 2.2% at the tail end of 2018, beating consensus forecasts of 1.8% growth.

On home turf, figures from UK Finance revealed that UK mortgage approvals rose more than expected in March, to their highest level in nine months. Mortgage approvals increased to 39,980 last month from 39,207 in February, coming in above consensus expectations for a level of 38,700.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,428.19  with a loss of -0.080% percent or -5.94 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,569.36  up with +0.21% percent or +11.70 point. Germany’s DAX closed at 12,315.18  up with +0.27% percent or +32.58    point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 26,543.33   up with +0.31% percent or +81.25 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,939.88 up with +0.47%percent or +13.71 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,146.40 up  with +0.34% percent or +27.72 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,258.73 with a loss of -0.22% percent or -48.85 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 29,813.54  up with +0.70% percent or +208.53   point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,060.51  with a loss of -0.84% percent or -25.89 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 39,067.33  up with +0.87% percent or +336.47 point at 12:15 PM.