European markets find nothing to cheer about, trade in red

In spite of the diffusing of tension between the US and North Korea, the European markets opened on a lacklustre and lower note during the early hours of trade on Thursday. This was primarily because of the geopolitical uncertainty that remains in the relationship between the two countries.
 
The FTSE 100 index was trading at 7,423, down by 10.60 points; CAC 40 index was trading at 5,167, down by 8.73 points; while the German DAX was at 12,244, having dipped by 19.42 points. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up by 0.2%.
 
Meanwhile, the Asian stocks rose higher on Thursday while the US dollar slipped into the negative zone even as investors lost confidence in the region’s pro-growth agenda. The British Chambers of Commerce has released new data which indicates that exporter confidence has softened because of fluctuations in currency and a shortage of skilled workers post the Brexit scenario. Also, the Office for National Statistics announced that the number of EU citizens working in the UK has hit a record high.
 
In the corporate world, Austrian construction company Wienerberger, Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, and British home improvement retailer Kingfisher were likely to present their latest figures on Thursday.