A look at the day ahead in European and global markets

By Rocky Swift, Correspondent

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The European theatre of World War II ended 80 years ago today, a sombre reminder as armed conflict still rages on the continent while another one threatens to ignite between nuclear powers in South Asia.

A China Shipping container is seen at the port of Oakland, as trade tensions escalate over U.S. tariffs with China, in Oakland, California, U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

To accommodate a moment of silence in honour of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the Bank of England is delaying its policy announcement by two minutes to 1102 GMT. The BoE is expected to continue its gradual pace of rate cuts that have come more slowly than those by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which stood pat yesterday in the face of inflation and recession fears.

A different sort of world war, between U.S. President Donald Trump and practically all of America's trade partners, looked marginally cooler ahead of ice-breaker talks between Washington and Beijing trade tsars this weekend. Chinese blue chips and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.75% and 1.1%, respectively, on hopes the negotiations will bring down retaliatory tariffs of more than 100% with the U.S.

 And equity futures in European and U.S. markets turned higher after Trump posted that he will hold a press conference today about a trade deal with a "BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED, COUNTRY. THE FIRST OF MANY!!!."

But the New York Times says the "big" country is Britain, a possibility previously flagged by analysts. UK stock futures and sterling climbed in Asia trade.

North Korea lobbed missiles into the ocean again, and Pakistan vowed retaliation for an Indian air strike, which was itself retaliation for an attack by Islamist militants last month. Stock markets in Asia weathered the drama, continuing anaemic gains seen on Wall Street after the Fed.
    But steeper advances in gold and Bitcoin signalled resilient demand for defensive assets.

Graphics are produced by Reuters.

Graphics are produced by Reuters.

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