European equities are set to start flat this morning as traders struggle for direction. Yesterday was a mixed day for Europe, what with the DAX higher, the CAC flat and the FTSE lower. Overnight hasn’t provided any clarity both though as the US had a strong session with respectable gains whilst Asian markets have erased early gains and are now heading south. With the recent rally built on the assumption that the world’s central banks will help out with some more loose monetary policy, with the BoE and Fed releasing the minutes from their last meeting and an ECB meeting today, we could be about to find out that the bulls rally has been built on sand. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning despite the mixed overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia, but investor sentiment may remain cautious ahead of the main economic event of today which is the release of the US non-farm payrolls data due out at lunchtime UK time. Commodity prices are flat to lower and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are range bound ahead of the US jobs report. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning following the performances on Wall Street and in Asia although in the latter, China and Hong Kong are shut for bank holidays. Overnight we had economic data out of China showing that the official manufacturing PMI came in slightly above forecast at 49.8, but still below the key 50 level expansion mark with the non-manufacturing PMI reading at 53.4, however the Caixin final manufacturing PMI remained unchanged at 47.2 and its services PMI was below forecast at 50.5. The economic diary today also sees the release of domestic manufacturing PMI, FPC meeting minutes followed by the latest US weekly jobless claims and the US ISM manufacturing PMI in the afternoon. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the key currencies are trading within narrow ranges ahead of these data releases. ...

European equities are set to start with gains this morning as the weak economic data continues to roll in thick and fast around the globe. It looks like the logic of bad news is good is here again and the bulls are naturally sniffing some more loose central bank policy. All this recent chatter that has been seeping into the mainstream media about negative interest rates looks like it’s gotten traders thinking it’s a real possibility.

Stocks across Europe and U.S rallied on Wednesday following on from a strong session in Asia overnight. The rally also marked the last trading day for Q3 2015 which saw the biggest quarterly loss in four years. The Dow Jones rallied 234 during yesterday’s session to close as 16,284. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning following the performances on Wall Street and in Asia as we come to the end of Q3. Overnight we had domestic economic data from GfK showing that the monthly consumer confidence reading dipped in September from +7 to +3 which was below forecast due to back-to-school blues. The economic diary today also sees the release of domestic current account data and the final GDP reading for Q2 which is expected to remain unchanged, followed in the US with the ADP jobs report and at 8.00pm UK time a speech from the US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. Commodity prices are flat to firmer and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these data releases and Yellen's speech. ...

European equities are set to start with gains this morning as we get a dead cat bounce before we plunge though this year’s lows. There’s nothing bullish out overnight to warrant this morning’s rise, just sellers and short sellers getting a little hesitant about hitting the button. Make no mistake, we’re heading lower; it’s just a case of when. The effects of China’s implosion are being felt as far and wide as Redcar, due to China's slowing industrial appetite for steel and their subsequent dumping of over production on the world market, all the way to Las Vegas as the former Chinese high rollers can only afford to play at the dollar stakes tables. All the pundits are suggesting attention is on this Fridays Non-Farm Payrolls and its influence on Octobers Fed meeting, but what traders should really be focusing on is Thursday’s Chinese Manufacturing data and its effect on the October Chinese Q3 GDP figures, it’s going to get messy!! ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning following the overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia amid ongoing concerns over Chinese growth, emerging markets and falling commodity prices. The economic diary today sees the release of the CBI distributive trades survey, CB consumer confidence data in the US and this evening a speech from the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. Commodity prices are lower and on the foreign exchanges, the dollar is slightly weaker against the pound, euro and yen but all are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these data releases and Mark Carney's speech. ...

European equities are set to slump on the open as they hurtle towards the technical definition of a bear market. With most of the European indices only another awful session away from crossing the 20% decline mark, the flight to safety trade is certainly on this morning. Chinese economic woes are still the main driver and it looks as though things are intensifying if anything. With one of the global economy’s pillars wobbling, it’s only natural for everyone else to fear for their own stability.

Stocks continued to tumble on Monday as the Dow Jones industrial average fell over 300 points. The Dow is on track for its third consecutive quarterly loss. The Fed’s decision to keep the base rate unchanged last week has left an aura of doubt with matters not helped by continuing weakness in China. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning following the indifferent performances on Wall Street on Friday and overnight in Asia with certain markets in the latter region including Hong Kong shut for national holidays as investors begin the week in cautious mood. There is no major economic data due for release today although several US Federal Reserve members are due to speak at various times. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these speeches from FOMC members. ...

European equities are set to slump on the open tracking an evening sell off in the states on Friday and overnight weakness in Asia. Europe’s initially positive start to Friday already seemed miss placed with some pundits putting it down to Janet Yellen’s optimistic take of the US economy. However, with a rate hike practically assured some time before the end of the year, markets have has to reassess their earlier reasoning, and instead aren’t’ liking the fact that consumer and business are going to get a little tighter in the pocket just in time for Christmas.

Friday was a mixed day of trading in the U.S which saw biotech stocks struggling further while financial companies rallied. The Dow Jones rallied 0.7 percent to close at 16,314. Stocks have had a volatile week with uneasy trading likely to continue as questions over the state of the global economy still linger. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning despite the mixed overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia with US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterating the case that the US was still on course to start raising interest rates 'sometime later this year' though this would depend on economic data. The economic diary today sees the Bank of England hold its Financial Policy Committee (FPC) meeting, the release of the final reading of US GDP data for Q2 and the revised reading of the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are trading in narrow ranges ahead of these data releases. It is a quiet end to the week for major corporate news. ...

European equities are set to start with gains this morning. There’s nothing particularly bullish out overnight, in fact Asian markets have recommenced their sell off and Janet Yellen has soured the mood by practically confirming that a rate hike will be coming before year end. It’s not so much an influx of buyers that’s nudging markets higher this morning, we’re only parring some of yesterday’s losses; it’s more the case that as we test the recent lows short sellers are becoming a little tetchy. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning following the overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia which saw the Japanese market open again after the public holiday. The economic diary today focuses on the US with the release of durable goods orders data and the latest US weekly jobless claims followed by a speech from the Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen at 10.00pm UK time. Commodity prices are firmer and on the foreign exchanges, the dollar is slightly weaker against the pound, euro and yen but all are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these US data releases and Yellen's speech. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning following the performances on Wall Street and in Asia except Japan which is still shut for a public holiday with Asia impacted by overnight economic news out of China showing that the Caixin flash manufacturing PMI came in below forecast at 47 and lower than the August reading of 47.3, so well below the key 50 level expansion mark. The economic diary today also sees a speech this afternoon from the ECB President Mario Draghi. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is weaker against both the dollar and the euro ahead of Mario Draghi's speech. ...

European equities are set to plunge on the open off the back of yet more weak Chinese economic data. The stasis that markets had been stuck in has been well and truly broken with markets now looking likely to test the year’s lows. With Europe’s major indices significantly in the red for the year, the question now is how low will they go?

U.S stocks erased gains made on Monday as the bears rejoiced in market volatility and uncertainty of the timeline of a rate hike. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 171 points to 16,338 on Tuesday, down over 1%. The Fed’s decision to keep the base rate unchanged last week has left an aura of doubt with matters not helped by continuing weakness in china. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open flat this morning despite the positive overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia where in the latter Japan remains shut for a public holiday as investor sentiment remains cautious on the global economic backdrop. The economic diary today focuses on the release of domestic public sector finances and the CBI industrial trends survey. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these UK data releases. ...

European equities are set to start little changed as sentiment remains mired in indecision. Yesterday’s gains could be summed up as drifting, no conviction and not likely to last. Until we get some clarity on the direction of China’s economy and US monetary policy, expect markets to remain listless.

U.S stocks closed up Monday recovering from an end of week sell of that was triggered by the Fed’s decision to halt a rise in interest rates. The Dow gained 175 points being spurred on by stronger than expected home resales with investors putting the uncertainty of global growth behind them. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning following Friday's performance on Wall Street and in Asia overnight although with the latter the Japanese market is shut for a public holiday as investors continued to react to the Fed's decision to leave US interest rates unchanged and the news that in Greece the former PM Alex Tsipras looks set to return to power after the weekend election outcome. There is no major economic data due for release today for investors to focus on. Commodity prices are range bound and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is slightly higher against both the dollar and the euro but all the major currencies are within narrow trading ranges. Today sees the latest quarterly FTSE indices changes take effect with Berkeley Group replacing Weir in the FTSE 100 but otherwise it is a quiet start to the week for major corporate news. ...

European equities are set to continue their slide on the Fed’s ‘dovish disappointment. Although the Fed gave traders some respite from monetary tightening, traders don’t like the connotations it has for the global economy.

US markets reversed gains seen after FOMC on Friday amidst growing fears over slowing global growth. The Dow Jones industrial average fell over 1.7 percent, down 290 points on Friday. Overnight trade in index futures also continues to show that the bearish sentiment is intact over the weekend. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open flat to slightly lower this morning following the mixed overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged citing global economic and financial developments and noting that the risks to the US economy remained nearly balanced for its decision. There is no major economic data due for release today as we end a busy week. Commodity prices are weaker and on the foreign exchanges, the pound is mixed against the dollar and the euro but all the key currencies are within narrow trading ranges. It is also a quiet day for major corporate news. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning on the back of the overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia with investors focusing on the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates which will be announced at 7.00pm UK time. The economic diary today also sees the release of domestic retail sales data, US building permit figures, the latest US weekly jobless claims and the Philly Fed manufacturing index reading. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the major currencies are all trading within narrow ranges ahead of these data releases and Janet Yellen's evening press conference following the FOMC decision. ...

European equities are set to start with gains on the open as the bulls just get the upper hand. On the eve of the Fed rate decision, It looks as though the bulls are betting that the hawks will have to wait a little longer for lift off following yesterday’s weak US inflation data. However, trading this economic release isn’t just as simple as rate hike = bearish, no hike = bullish. We’ll also be getting the Fed’s economic projections for the next 2 years and Janet Yellen will appear at a press conference to explain her action or inaction, which will collude to muddy the exact impact it should have on markets. There are too many scenarios and combinations of event s this evening to make an educated guess with any accuracy with a probability above random, so if you don’t have an appetite for volatility; then maybe you should stay out of this one. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning following the overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia although investor sentiment may well be cautious as the Federal Reserve begins its two-day meeting culminating in its announcement tomorrow evening UK time on interest rate policy. The economic diary today sees the release of domestic unemployment figures followed at lunchtime in the US with inflation data. Commodity prices are mixed and on the foreign exchanges, the dollar is slightly weaker against the pound, euro and yen but all are within narrow trading ranges ahead of these data releases. ...

The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning despite the mixed overnight performances on Wall Street and in Asia as investors remain focused on the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting later this week. The economic diary today sees the release of domestic inflation data, US retail sales numbers and US industrial production figures. Commodity prices are range bound and on the foreign exchanges, the major currencies are also trading within narrow ranges ahead of these data releases. ...