FTSE 100 leads European stock futures lower this morning

The European stock markets were led higher by fresh records in the DAX yesterday, but more on that index specifically a little later on. The record closes on Wall Street in the Dow and the S+P have not exactly translated into higher futures prices across the European spectrum this morning though. Two of the three major indexes are priced to open lower this morning, but of course that might change. The FTSE 100 is leading that downside in percentage terms right now and that latest UK sales data probably has not helped the opening outlook. Neither has the reaction in the Pound to those numbers, as the GBP/USD lifts to new 2024 highs above 1.3314. Indeed, the higher oil prices since this time yesterday are also not having a positive impact and it seems the UK interest rate outlook and the higher Pound right now are eclipsing those oil gains. The outlier in terms of Europe is the CAC 40, but that will be explained shortly. The FTSE 100 closed yesterday at 8,328. It is currently priced to reopen around 8,280