The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 5,762.60 up with +0.05% percent or +2.60 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 4,411.80 up with +1.25% percent or +54.34 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 10,461.80 up with +0.22% or +22.80 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 2,814.00 with +0.50% percent or +14.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Prices were picking up towards the end of the session, however, with Brent crude last up 5.29% at $20.41 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate 16.52% higher at $13.86, in volatile trading.

In equity markets, building materials group CRH was up 6.7% after reporting a rise in first-quarter like-for-like sales and announcing a series of cost-cutting measures, including 25% pay cuts for leadership teams and board members.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 5,770.63 up with +2.30% percent or +129.60 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 4,411.80 up with +1.25% percent or +54.34 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 10,415.03 up with +1.61% percent or +165.18 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 23,475.82  with +1.99% percent or +456.94  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,799.31 up with +2.29% percent or +62.75  point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,495.38  up with 2.81% percent or +232.15 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 19,429.44 up with +1.52%percent or +291.49  point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 24,015.41 with +0.51% percent or +122.05   point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 2,838.50 with a loss of –0.19% percent or –5.48 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 31,763.29 up with +1.22% percent or  +383.74  point at 12:15 PM.