The DAX Futures is trading at 12,611.00 up with +0.11%  percent or +14.00 point . The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,467.50 up with  +0.12% percent or +9.00 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,473.00 up  with +0.68% percent or +37.00 point .  The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures is trading at 3,474.00  up with +0.55%  percent or +19.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

The DAX index has steadied in the Thursday session, after recording sharp losses in Wednesday trade. Currently, the DAX is trading at 12,583 points, up 0.02% on the day. On the release front, German Retail Sales declined 0.6%, well off the estimate of 0.8%. Later in the day, Germany releases Preliminary CPI, with an estimate of -0.1%.

German Retail Sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending, continues to struggle. The indicator dropped 0.6% in April, marking a fourth consecutive decline. At the same time, the German consumer remains very optimistic, as underscored by the well-respected GfK consumer confidence reports. The Frankfurt stock market remains at high levels, another sign of favorable sentiment towards the robust German economy.

 

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 24,163.15  with a loss of -0.61% percent or -148.04 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,648.05  with a loss of -0.82% percent or -21.86  point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7066.27  with a loss of -0.75% percent or -53.53 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,508.03 up with +0.18% percent or +40.16 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 30,808.45  up with +1.74% percent or +527.78  point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,082.23 up with +0.23% percent or  +7.20 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 35,160.36 up with +0.55% percent or +190.66  point at 12:15 PM.