The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at  7,323.20 with a loss of -0.28% percent or -20.80 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,653.50 up with +0.21% percent or +12.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 12,430.50  up with  +0.06% percent or +8.00 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,544.00  up with +0.11% percent or +4.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks nudged lower in early trade on Friday as the pound rallied, with investors still digesting the latest policy announcement from the European Central Bank.

At 0840 BST, the FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 7,336.08, while the pound was up 0.7% against the dollar at 1.2415, breaching the $1.24 level for the first time since July – and 0.3% firmer versus the euro at 1.1180. Sterling was holding on to gains even as the Democratic Unionist Party dismissed an earlier report suggesting that it had softened its stance on a Northern Ireland-only backstop.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,322.73   with a loss of –0.30% percent or –21.94  point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,657.33 up with +0.26% percent or  +14.47 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 12,440.86  up with +0.25% percent or +30.61  point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 27,182.45  up with +0.17% percent or +45.41   point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,009.57  up with +0.29% percent or +8.64 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,194.47 up with +0.30% percent or +24.79  point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 21,988.29 up  with +1.05% percent or +228.68 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,352.69  up with +0.98% percent or +265.06 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,031.24  up with +0.75% percent or +22.42 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 37,258.74  up with +0.42% percent or +154.46 point at 12:15 PM.