European Markets: A Look at the Numbers and What's Moving Them

European markets are expected to kick off Thursday on a positive note. The FTSE 100 in London is predicted to rise by 0. 3%, reaching around 8, 799. Meanwhile, Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 are both anticipated to see a 0. 2% increase, with the DAX at 23, 836 and the CAC at 7, 757. Italy's FTSE MIB is also looking at a slight gain of 0. 15%, aiming for 39, 926. This uptick comes after a bit of a rollercoaster on Wednesday, especially in the UK. Bond prices and the FTSE took a tumble, partly due to some drama in Parliament. UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves seemed quite upset during a session, which raised eyebrows. The government mentioned she was dealing with a "personal matter, " and Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed her up. Across the pond, U. S. stock futures didn't move much on Wednesday night. Traders are bracing for the June nonfarm payrolls data, which is expected to show around 110, 000 new jobs added last month. That's a bit lower than May's 139, 000, and economists are also predicting a slight rise in the unemployment rate. Over in the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnamese stocks hit a three-year high. Investors are eagerly waiting for more details on the U. S. -Vietnam trade agreement that President Donald Trump announced. The deal includes a 20% tariff on goods coming into the U. S. from Vietnam, while Vietnam will impose "ZERO Tariff" on certain goods. So, what's driving these movements? A mix of political developments, economic data, and trade agreements seem to be at play. It's a reminder of how interconnected global markets are and how quickly things can change.