European markets turn positive

With traders trying to take advantage of the simmering down of geopolitical tensions between the US and North Korea, the European stock markets opened higher during the early hours of trade on Wednesday.
 
The FTSE 100 index was trading at 7,375 levels, up by 38.41 points; CAC 40 index was trading at 5,060 levels, higher by 28.69 points; while the German DAX was at 12,020 levels, up by 74.46 points. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was higher by 0.06%
 
On Tuesday, the market had become restless on the back of reports that North Korea had fired a ballistic missile over Japan. Meanwhile, the US’ markets closed in the red and the Asian market traded mostly on a higher note on Wednesday.
 
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump issued a statement saying that “all options are on the table” when it comes to responding to North Korea’s recent missile launch. “The world has received North Korea’s latest message loud and clear: this regime has signalled its contempt for its neighbours, for all members of the United Nations, and for minimum standards of acceptable international behaviour,” he added.
 
Wednesday will mark the third day in the third round of Article 50 negotiations between the UK and the European Union (EU). On the data front, UK consumer credit figures, euro zone sentiment and preliminary inflation data for Germany are all likely to be released during today’s market trade.