What you need to know before the open
A muted open for European markets as investors remain cautious.
Asian stocks slipped in Monday trading, and the dollar fell back from recent highs as Chinese trade data came in weaker than expected.
China’s exports unexpectedly dropped in February, compounding fears of a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. China’s CSI 300 index fell 3.3 per cent to a 2009-low.
The drop has dulled risk, with the ongoing situation in Ukraine and missing Malaysian aeroplane adding to the solemn mood.
Corporate news
A quiet morning today.
Fyffes and Chiquita are set to merge, forming the world’s biggest banana company.
And the UK’s largest drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline, has said it’s successfully upped its stake in its publicly-listen Indian unit, from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.
In Asia
Indian car sales were up 1.39 per cent in February from a year earlier, to 160,718 units, according to figures from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
Data in focus
- 9.30am: EU March Sentix investor confidence
- 10.00am: Greece Feb CPI