Today, the FTSE 100 has been at the forefront of a surge in European stocks, buoyed by the Federal Reserve’s announcement of its intention to implement three interest rate cuts later in the year.
France’s CAC 40 experienced an increase of up to 0.8%, while Germany’s DAX also saw significant gains, rising as much as 0.9% to 18,159.77.
The FTSE 100 itself registered a 0.9% increase, having previously soared as much as 1.3%.
In the US, stock markets are anticipated to open with upward momentum, continuing from Wednesday’s record highs.
In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 leapt 2% to close at a historic high of 40,815.66, following a report indicating a nearly 8% growth in exports in February compared to the same month last year, marking the third consecutive month of rising exports.
The FTSE 100 experienced a robust opening, surging by approximately 95 points to reach a year-to-date peak of 7,829.
This surge was fueled by a record-breaking session in the US, following the Federal Reserve’s indication of its intention to carry out three rate cuts in 2024.
Focus now shifts to the Bank of England, where there is a broad expectation that interest rates will remain steady at 5.25%.
However, the recent weaker-than-anticipated inflation data might influence a more cautious stance from the policymakers in their meeting this afternoon.
While no rate cut is anticipated, attention is turning towards future monetary policy guidance in light of the subdued inflation figures from yesterday.
