The European stock markets are now lower from earlier levels and that has come as the Nikkei 225 futures fall back after the close. The Nikkei 225 future is now lower by around 3.5% and that has dented the European stock markets and the US futures. The DAX is now falling close to, or even below where it closed last night and hence wiping out all the opening gains. It is the same story for the FTSE 100 and the CAC 40 and now the CAC is below where it closed and heading back towards 7,100. The dollar and the Yen are now higher and that has seen the yen bounce back more than the US currency. Hence, the USD/JPY has now fallen back below 144.50, from earlier levels above 146. The USD/JPY is currently trading at 144.46