12 April 2019 : European shares traded flat on Friday as investors evaluated China’s latest trade figures.

Although China’s exports rebounded in March, rising over 14.0% year-on-year, imports disappointed by shrinking 7.6% - marking a fourth consecutive month of decline.

With the trade figures illustrating a mixed picture of the second largest economy in the world, investors are likely to adopt a guarded approach ahead of first quarter earnings releases from two of the biggest banks in the United States. Investors may get a glimpse on how the fading impacts of tax cuts and the Federal Reserve’s cautious shift on interest rates have impacted JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. Should earnings from both banks disappoint, risk sentiment for global equities may take a hit.

Source: Lukman Otunuga, FXTM Research Analyst

Reporting for EasyKobo on Friday , 12 April 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria