European stocks are seen higher on Friday morning as investors focus on data releases and monitor U.S. plans to overhaul the tax system.
The FTSE 100 is expected to start the day higher by 7 points at 7,325; the DAX is set to open up by 12 points at 12,711 and the CAC 40 is seen higher by 2 points at 5,290.
The tax plans presented this week by U.S. President Donald Trump have supported some sectors across the globe, but the administration is set for a long battle. On Thursday, White House economic advisor Gary Cohn said he could not guarantee that every middle-class citizen will get a smaller tax bill. The dollar has eased back overnight after jumping on the intended tax changes. The U.S. dollar was trading 0.13 percent higher against a basket of foreign currencies at 93.197 at about 5.30 a.m. London time.
In Europe, investors took note of comments made by European Central Bank (ECB) officials. ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said Thursday that the bank should decrease the pace of asset purchases, but still keep monetary policy loose. Executive Board Member, Peter Praet, also said that the central bank isn’t going to discuss an end to monetary stimulus, but instead how to recalibrate its policy.
Brexit negotiators said Thursday they aren’t yet at a position that allows them to discuss future trade arrangements. The next round of talks is scheduled for October.
Friday has plenty of data releases to look out for. In the U.K., there will be Nationwide third-quarter house price index numbers issued at 7.00 a.m. London time and consumer credit figures out at 9.30 a.m. London time. There’s also retail sales out in Germany at 7 a.m. London time and preliminary inflation figures from Italy, France and Germany throughout the morning.
U.K. consumer confidence grew by one point in September, a GfK survey showed Friday, after having fallen two points in the previous month.
In the corporate world, Qatar Airways has bought a 49 percent share in AQA Holding, the parent company of Italy’s Meridiana, Reuters reported. Carillion is due to report interim results Friday.
Source: cnbc
European markets seen higher ahead of inflation data; Qatar Airways buys Italian airline