The DAX Futures is trading at 13,079.20 up with +0.21%or +27.60 point.The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 5,977.90 with a loss of -0.48% percent or +29.10  point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 5,026.00  up with +0.25% percent or +12.50 point.The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,330.00 up with +0.30% percent or +10.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

A surprising announcement from Prime Minister Abe that he is resigning due to health concerns sent Japanese markets into a tailspin with Nikkei down by -1.41% and USD/JPY down by more than 85 pips.

Abe who has been Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister stated that he will appoint an interim Prime Minister until his successor is chosen. The news sent Japanese markets lower and the yen higher as investors tried to grapple with the uncertainty, but it is unclear just how much of an impact his departure will have on Japanese policy. Abe’s party is a center-right party that has been generally a strong ally of the US and the neo-liberal order.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day Germany’s DAX closed at 13,096.31  up with +0.48% percent or +63.11 point.the FTSE 100 closed at 5,963.57  with a loss of –0.61%percent or –36.42 point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 5,033.25 up with +0.61% percent or +30.31 point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 28,653.87 up with 0.57% percent or +161.60  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,508.01 up with +0.67% percent or +23.46 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 11,695.63 up with +0.60% percent or  +70.30 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at at 23,139.76 up with +1.12% percent or +257.11 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 25,412.69 with a loss of –0.037% percent or –9.37 point. China’s Shanghai  Composite is trading at 3,395.68 with a loss of –0.24%% percent or –8.13  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 39,261.65 with a loss of –0.52% percent or 205.78 point at 12:15 PM.