Softer tones prevail throughout European morning trade
If anything, this just looks more like a light pullback after the gains over the past week. As mentioned earlier, it could be some profit-taking as US indices near all-time highs. But don’t count out dip buyers before the end of the day. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the matter
The report says that the BOJ is discussing phasing out a COVID-19 loan programme, which is due to expire in March next year, if infections in the country continue to decline and as the economy picks itself back up from the depths of the pandemic.

Latest data released by CBI – 21 October 2021
From higher material costs to labour shortages, manufacturers continue to face a number of serious global supply challenges hampering their ability to meet strong demand.
Meanwhile, the business optimism index slumped from 27 in July to 2 in October – its lowest since January when the UK re-entered

Russia recorded a record number of 34,073 cases and 1,028 deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday
While there are many parts of the world starting to flip the page on the pandemic, not everywhere is seeing a similar recovery story unfortunately.