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MORNING CALL: U.S. SPENDING PLAN, FRANCE lockdown (0540 GMT)
After the STOXX 600 index ended the first quarter
of 2021 with a 7.8% rise, European shares are seen on the black
as the first session of the new quarter kicks off.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday outlined a plan to
restart the economy, including spending on roads, railways,
broadband, clean energy and semiconductor
manufacture.
But capping the optimism, Macron ordered France into its
third national lockdown as he sought to push back a third wave
of COVID-19 infections.
Eyes will also be on EZ manufacturing PMI numbers, which are
expected to be holding up well.
"Manufacturing PMI has been one of the main bright spots
amidst the gloom of the economic rebound in Europe, as
businesses adapt to the restrictions around them, and show
resilience in the face of a changed environment," writes Michael
Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK.
Financial spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open
11 points higher at 6,725, Frankfurt's DAX to open 16 points
higher at 15,024 and Paris' CAC to open 2 points lower at
6,065.
(Joice Alves)
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