European leading indicators have perked up and investors are following suit after a punishing week.

Theresa May must secure agreement for her Brexit blueprint at next week’s Summit

The FTSE opened a fraction higher as did most European bourses except for Frankfurt, defying the trend set by US stocks. Concerns over the fallout of the US-China trade war have seen the Dow Jones Industrial Average close down for eight consecutive sessions while the Nasdaq sank 0.9% on Thursday, the biggest single-day fall since April.

Bank of England policymakers have scored a victory against complacent sterling bears.

Investors scramble to cash in gains after reports that a Eurosceptic could run a senate committee in Italy.

As expected that Bank of England voted to keep rates on hold at 0.5%. Whilst low expectations saw the pound drop to a fresh year to date nadir prior to the BoE rate decision, an unexpected hawkish change to the vote split bolstered the pound over 1% higher.

The FTSE and European markets started the day mostly higher but the positive tone is masking growing concerns over the escalation of US-China trade tensions.

USD strength remains intact with USD/JPY undergoing a new potential upleg. S&P 500 remains in a bullish configuration with ASX 200 bullish breakout above 6150 former range resistance.

USD/JPY set to resume its upleg holding above 109.90 key short-term support.

General Electric is being booted from the index after 111 years on the list.

Stock markets are bouncing during a pause in U.S.-China trade rhetoric.