The US stock markets will shortly reopen and as things stand right now, that opening is set to be positive. However, at the same time the European stock markets are edging back down again. The earlier rebound in the DAX to a session high, at 18,743 blew out quite a lot earlier this morning and since then the index has dropped back to a session low just now, as it drops towards 18,625. The same story applies to the CAC 40 and the FTSE 100. The CAC is close to session lows just underneath 7,650. The contrast between the European stock markets and the US opening is quite stark right now and it remains to be seen, which if any will win out when it comes to direction this afternoon