UK stocks are flat to lower today. Data from the Office for National Statistics this morning showed that Retail Sales fell by 2.5% from a month earlier. Expectations were for a small increase.

Wall Street managed a small gain on Thursday following two days of losses. The government announced that expanded unemployment benefits would be allowed in the wake of the increasing Covid-19 cases. Markets will be turning their attention to next week’s Jackson Hole conference when the Fed is expected to announce when they will begin tapering the stimulus program.`

Asian markets had a harder time, suffering further losses after the Chinese government increased their regulatory crackdown on the technology sector.

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