The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,623.50   up with  +0.01% percent or +0.50 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 6,103.50 up with +1.07% percent or +64.50 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 13,526.50 up with +0.04% percent or +5.70 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,800.00 with a loss of -0.05% percent or -2.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The FTSE 100 was up 0.85% at 7,674.56, while the pound was down 0.39% against the US dollar at 1.3026 after data from the Office for National Statistics showed that UK retail sales unexpectedly fell in December.

Commenting on the day’s price action, IG’s Josh Mahony told clients: “The FTSE 100 has seen a sharp surge as we close out the week, with the growing prospect of a rate rise from the BoE helping drive the pound lower.

“Rounding off a week which has seen rate cut expectations soar, the release of a hugely disappointing retail sales number for December provided yet another reason to expect action from Carney and co

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at ,7,674.56  up with +0.85% percent or +64.75  point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 6,100.72  up with +1.02% percent or  +61.69 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 13,526.13 up with +0.72% percent or +96.70  point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 29,348.10 up with +0.17% percent or +50.46  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,329.62   up with +0.39% percent or +12.81 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,388.94 up with  +0.34% percent or +31.81 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 24,083.51  up with +0.18% percent or +42.25  point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 28,871.47 with a loss of –0.64% percent or –184.95  point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,092.47  up with +0.55% percent or +16.97 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 41,761.72 with a loss of –0.44% percent or –183.65 point at 12:15 PM.