European equity markets are set to open higher on Friday to cap a positive week for stocks.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 is set to open marginally positive, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 are expected to open higher by 0.4%, according to FactSet futures data.
Meanwhile, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index is expected to open 0.36% higher.
Overnight in Asia, stocks climbed higher after the S&P 500 hit a record high in Thursday’s trading session in the U.S. as President Donald Trump called for lower interest rates and cheaper oil prices.
Speaking via video to an assembly of global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the new president in a wide-ranging policy speech did not mention the Federal Reserve by name but made clear he would seek lower rates.
“I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately,” Trump said. “And likewise, they should be dropping all over the world. Interest rates should follow us all over.”
The Bank of Japan raised the policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.5% — the highest since 2008 and in line with economists’ expectations. Following the decision, the Japanese yen weakened marginally to trade at 155.18 against the dollar.
Investors are also likely to be looking ahead to the Fed’s FOMC meeting on Wednesday with no change expected to interest rates. Elsewhere in China, equity markets will be closed from Tuesday for the Lunar New Year holiday.
— CNBC’s Amala Balakrishner contributed to this European markets update.
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