The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,253.50  with +0.61% percent or +44.00 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,309.00  with +0.32% percent or +17.01  point. The DAX Futures is trading at 12,008.00  up with +0.13% percent or +12.00 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,354.00 with +0.39% percent or +13.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

 London stocks looked set for a muted open on Thursday as investors eyed the latest policy announcement from the European Central Bank.

The FTSE 100 was called to open four points higher at 7,224.

The ECB rate decision is at 1245 BST, but with no change to policy expected, all eyes will be on Mario Draghi’s press conference at 1330 BST.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: “In light of the sizeable drop off in inflation, traders will be expecting more details about the new targeted lending scheme that is planned to begin in September.”

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,257.75  up with +0.52% percent or +37.53 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,313.27 up with +0.40% percent or +21.28 point. Germany’s DAX closed at 12,005.13  up with +0.19% percent or

29.29 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,539.57 up  with +0.82% percent or +207.39 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,826.15 up with +0.82% percent or ++22.88  point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,575.48  up with +0.64% percent or +48.36 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 20,774.04  with a loss of -0.0099% percent or -2.06 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 26,948.79 up with +0.20% percent or ++54.49   point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,827.80 with a loss of -1.17% percent or -33.62 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 39,730.39  with a loss of -0.88% percent or -353.15  point at 12:15 PM.