With the Dow Jones clearing its losses by the end of Wednesday’s trading, and China posting some healthier-than-forecast trade data, the European markets were eager to climb on Thursday. Well, all bar the FTSE.
A 3.3% rise in Chinese exports, against the 2% decline expected and the 1.3% drop seen in June, came as a welcome surprise to the Asian and European markets. Even a nasty-sounding 5.6% slide in imports was comparatively strong given the estimated 8.3% plunge.
The Nikkei added 0.4%, while the Shanghai Composite jumped just shy of 1%. This led into a strong start from the Eurozone; the DAX crossed 11700 as it added 80 points, with the CAC roaring past 5300 following a 1% increase.
Left behind was the FTSE. Instead of galloping out of the gate the UK index shuffled forward half asleep, at most adding a handful of points as it struggled to cross 7200. That’s because the pound has opened in relatively high spirits, rising 0.3% against dollar and euro alike on reports that rebel MPs are working on a plan to thwart the no-deal Brexit intentions of Boris Johnson (and puppet master Dominic Cummings) ahead of All Hallows’ Eve.