The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,192.00  with a loss of -0.03% percent or -1.90 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,795.00 with a loss of -0.19% percent or -11.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 13,140.00  with a loss of -0.06% percent or -7.30 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,658.00 with a loss of -0.11% percent or -4.00  point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

It was a less impressive performance for the City’s benchmark index compared to its European peers, which were all up at least 1%, as the pound hit seven-month highs amid market expectations that the Tories would come out victorious in the general election next week.

The pound was last 0.74% higher on the dollar at $1.3091, and ahead 0.73% on the euro at €1.1814.

Sentiment was boosted by a report suggesting that the United States and China were moving closer to agreeing a first phase trade deal, even as tensions over Hong Kong and Xinjiang escalated.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,188.50 up with +0.42% percent or +29.74 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,799.68 up with +1.27% percent or +72.47 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 13,140.57  up with 1.16% percent or +151.28 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 27,649.78 up with +0.53% percent or  +146.97 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,112.76  up with +0.63% percent or +19.56 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,566.67 up with +0.54% percent or +46.03 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 23,300.09 up with +0.71% percent or +164.86 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 26,219.58 up with +0.60% percent or +161.00 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,899.47  up with 0.74% percent or +21.35   point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 40,893.02  with 0.10% percent or +42.73  point at 12:15 PM.