The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 6,019.70 up with +0.10% percent or +5.80  point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 4,458.80 with a loss of -0.09% percent or -4.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 11,144.50 up with +0.10% or +11.40 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 2,909.00 with a loss of -0.10% percent or -3.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Stocks in Europe finished mostly higher after the minutes of the European Central Bank’s last policy meeting showed rate-setters in Frankfurt were keeping the door open to further stimulus if needed.

Some positive news on the coronavirus front may also have helped to steady sentiment going into the weekend.

Oxford University announced that it had begun enrolling over 10,000 more volunteers for the next stage of clinical trials for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, while in China reports said CanSino Biologics own vaccine candidate had successfully completed first phase trials.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 5,993.28 with a loss of –0.37% percent or –21.97  point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 4,477.40 with +0.74% percent or +32.84 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 11,171.52  up with +0.80% percent or +88.08  point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 24,465.16  with a loss of -0.037% percent or -8.96 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,955.45 up with +0.24% percent or +6.94 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,324.59  up with +0.43% percent or +39.71 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at up 20,741.65 up with +1.73% percent or +353.49 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 22,907.95  with a loss of  –0.097% percent or –10.91 point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 2,817.97 up with +0.15% percent or +4.20 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 30,672.59 with a loss of –0.84% percent or –260.31  point at 12:15 PM.