The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 5,842.20 up with +0.19% percent or +11.20  point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 4,433.38 with a loss of –1.11%percent or -49.75 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 10,633.30 up with +1.01% or +106.80 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 2,826.00  up with +0.21% percent or +6.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks looked set for a flat start on Thursday after the Bank of England stood pat on rates, as expected, and as investors mulled a mixed batch of data out of China.

The FTSE 100 was called to open steady at 5854.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: “Asia markets have struggled for direction with a mixed session and this lack of direction is expected to translate into a slightly firmer open here in Europe after yesterday’s losses.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 5,853.76 up with +0.074% percent or +4.34 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 4,433.38 with a loss of –1.11%percent or –49.75 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 10,606.20  with a loss of -1.15% percent or –123.26 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 23,664.64  with a loss of -0.91% percent or -218.45 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,848.42 with a loss of –0.70%percent or -20.02 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,854.39  up with 0.51% percent or +45.27 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 19,674.77 with 0.28% percent or +55.42  point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 23,970.39 with a loss of –0.69% percent or –167.09 point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 2,871.52 with a loss of –0.23% percent or –6.62point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 31,508.18 with a loss of –0.56% percent or –177.57  point at 12:15 PM.