The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,024.80 up with +0.23% percent or +16.30 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 6,361.00 with +0.28% percent or +18.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 15,462.00 up with +0.21% or +33.00 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 4,026.00 up with +0.10% percent or +4.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

London stocks finished the week slightly lower, held back throughout most of the session by a stronger pound after solid retail sales and manufacturing data.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: “‘Guardedly positive’ is perhaps the best way to describe today’s session […]

“The picture today for risk assets looks a lot more positive than it did mid-week, as inflation concerns continue to subside and today’s suite of stronger economic data provides a continued argument to stick with equities. However, until we clear the peaks seen a week ago some caution will linger.”

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,018.05 with a loss of –percent or ?1.74 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 6,386.41 up with +percent or +42.83 point.Germany’s DAX closed at 15,437.51 up with + percent or +67.25 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 34,207.84 up with percent or ++123.69 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 4,155.86 with a loss of – percent or ?3.26 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 13,470.99 with a loss of – percent or ?64.75 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at at 28,364.46 up with  + percent or +46.63 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 28,370.16 with a loss of – percent or –88.28 point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 3,491.15 up with percent or +4.59 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 50,743.48 up with +percent or +203.00 point at 12:15 PM.