The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,365.00  with a loss of -0.01% percent or -0.50 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,359.98 with a loss of -0.28% percent or -14.94 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 12,086.80   with a loss of -0.19% percent or -23.50 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,378.00  with a loss of -0.12% percent or -4.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Sino-US trade relations were in focus again as US President Trump reiterated after the European market close on Wednesday that he will impose tariffs on $325bn of Chinese imports if a deal isn’t reached.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: “Mr Trump has made it clear that the trade war will ratchet up if Xi Jinping doesn’t show up at the G20 meeting later this month. Trade concerns are likely to persist in the near term, but we might not see major moves in global stock markets until the G20 summit, when the two leaders are expected to meet.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,373.17  up with +0.075% percent or +5.55 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,360.04  with a loss of -0.28% percent or -14.88 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 12,087.87 with a loss of -0.23% percent or -27.81 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 26,004.83 with a loss of -0.17% percent or -43.68 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,879.84 with a loss of -0.20% percent or -5.88 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,792.72   with a loss of -0.38%  percent or -29.85 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 21,032.00 with a loss of -0.46% percent or -97.72 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,144.50  with a loss of -0.60% percent or -163.96    point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,910.74  up with +0.047% percent or +1.36  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 39,537.19  with a loss of -0.55% percent or -219.62 point at 12:15 PM.