The DAX Futures is trading at 13,137.00 up with +0.05% percent or +6.00 point .The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at  7,772.00 with a loss of -0.21% percent or -16.50 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,528.46 up with +1.39% percent or  +75.74 point .  The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures is trading at 3,536.00 up with +0.11% percent or  +4.00  point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Fresh from the Fed’s rate hike, the markets will shift their focus to Frankfurt, where the ECB is holding its policy meeting. Will we see any clues with regard to the ECB’s asset-purchase program? Currently, the bank is purchasing EUR 30 billion/mth, and the scheme is scheduled to wind up in September. The eurozone economy hit some headwinds in the first quarter and the new populist government in Italy could pose a major headache for Brussels. This could mean that the ECB will phase out the stimulus program over several months, rather than turn off the tap completely in September. What is clear is that the ECB board members will conduct a detailed discussion about the fate of the stimulus package at this meeting. If ECB President Mario Draghi discusses any new developments regarding stimulus at his press conference, we could see some volatility from EUR/USD on friday.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 25,175.31 with  a loss of –0.10% percent or –25.89 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,782.49 with +0.25% percent or +6.86 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,761.04  up with +0.85% percent or +65.34 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,851.75 up with +0.50% percent or +113.14 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 30,399.38 with a loss of –0.13% percent or –40.79 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,022.93 with  a loss of –0.70% percent or –21.23 point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 35,543.18 with a loss of –0.16% percent or  –56.64 point at 12:15 PM.