The European stock markets will shortly open for live trade and unless something wild happens in the next 10 minutes it is going to be a very positive start to the day. As noted here earlier, the FTSE 100 closed modestly higher yesterday, at 8,328.60. It is set to effectively open markedly higher shortly, currently around 8,430. The noted rise in oil prices this morning and the lower GBP/USD are conducive to that higher opening too. If you stand back and look at the lows seen in recent times towards 7,500 and the all time high prior to that, at 8,908 you can see it is now closer to the upper end of the range than it is to the lower end.