The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,174.80  with a loss of -0.18% percent or -12.70 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,418.00  with a loss of -0.26% percent or -14.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 11,782.00  with a loss of -0.04% percent or -5.00 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,394.00 up with +0.06% percent or +2.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks edged lower in early trade on Thursday as investors mulled over the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting, but NMC Health bucked the trend on deal news.

At 0840 BST, the FTSE 100 was down 0.3% at 7,185.85.

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell said: “Though the CME Group’s FedWatch tool continues to have the chances of a September rate cut at 98.1%, July’s meeting minutes gave investors cause for pause.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,176.67   with a loss of –0.37% percent or –26.61 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,422.74  with a loss of –0.23% percent or  –12.73 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 11,799.18 up with +0.01% percent or +2.11 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 26,202.73 up with +0.93% percent or +240.29  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,924.43  up with +0.82% percent or  +23.92 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,020.21 up  with +0.90% percent or +71.65 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 20,628.01  up with +0.046% percent or +9.44 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 26,048.72 with a loss of –0.84% percent or –221.32 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,883.44 up with +0.11% percent or ++3.10 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 36,793.62 with a loss of –0.72% percent or –266.75  point at 12:15 PM.