European shares fall, Asia markets up ahead of Trump remarks
TOKYO — European share benchmarks are lower, reversing strong dollar-driven gains in Asia, ahead of a press conference by President-elect Donald Trump.
KEEPING SCORE: France’s CAC 40 fell 0.5 per cent to 4,864.78, while Germany’s DAX lost 0.4 per cent to 11,541.02. Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.1 per cent to 7,267.22. U.S. shares were also set to drift lower, with Dow futures down nearly 0.1 per cent and S&P futures were down 0.2 per cent.
TRUMP FACTOR: Investors are awaiting Trump’s first news conference in nearly six months, as questions fly over Russia’s role in the election year hacking of Democratic groups. Markets are awaiting news on Trump’s plan to disengage from his businesses and on his policy positions.
THE QUOTE: “Trading is likely to remain cautious ahead of press conferences with Fed members on Thursday, and Trump tonight. There is little in the way of data to drive sentiment prior to these events,” Alex Furber, a sales trader at CMC Markets, said in a commentary.