The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 5,763.50  up with +0.98% percent or +55.80 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 4,350.16 with a loss of -0.082% percent or -3.56 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 10,604.80 up with +1.50% or +157.00 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 2,862.00 up with +2.95% percent or +82.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks were set to rise at the open on Friday following a positive session in Asia, amid hopes of a coronavirus treatment.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 156 points higher at 5,784.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: “A couple of hours after the close of trading in New York, it was reported that Covid-19 patients are responding well to remdesivir – an antiviral drug produced by Gilead Sciences. It is believed that most patients had ‘rapid recoveries in fever and respiratory symptoms’. The news sent US index futures higher, and it paved the way for a positive session in Asia. European markets are being called higher.”

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 5,628.43 up with +0.55% percent or +30.78  point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 4,350.16 with a loss of –0.082% percent or –3.56 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 10,301.54 up with +0.21%percent or +21.78 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 23,537.68  up with +0.14% percent or +33.33 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,799.55 up with +0.58% percent or +16.19  point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,532.36  up with +1.66% percent or +139.19 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 19,897.26 up with +3.15% percent or +607.06 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 24,375.57 up with +1.54% percent or +369.12   point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 2,838.49 up with +0.66% percent or +18.56 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 31,080.08 up with +1.63% percent or +498.85  point at 12:15 PM.