The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 5,778.50 with a loss of -1.81% percent or -106.50  point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 4,572.18 with a loss of –2.12% percent or ?98.93  point. The DAX Futures is trading at 10,762.50 with -3.27% or -363.50 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 2,878.00  with a loss of -2.97% percent or -88.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The FTSE 100 ended the session down 3.5% at 5,901.21, and the FTSE 250 was 2.26% weaker at 16,454.46.

Sterling was stronger against both of its major trading pairs, rising 0.92% against the dollar to last trade at $1.2584, and rising 0.38% on the euro to €1.1513.

Stocks had rallied on Wednesday, as investors cheered news that Gilead Sciences’ antiviral ‘remdesivir’ drug had helped improve outcomes for patients with Covid-19.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 5,901.21 with a loss of –3.50% percent or ?214.04 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 4,572.18 with a loss of –2.12% percent or –98.93 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 10,861.64  with a loss of -2.22% percent or –246.10 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 24,345.72 with a loss of -1.17% percent or -288.14  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,912.43 with a loss of –0.92% percent or -27.08 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,889.55  with a loss of -0.28% percent or ?25.16 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 19,619.35 with a loss of –2.84% percent or –574.34  point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 24,643.59 up with +0.28% percent or +67.63 point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 2,860.08 up with +1.33% percent or +37.64  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 33,717.62 up with +3.05% percent or +997.46  point at 12:15 PM.