European stocks up, Asia in disarray

European stock markets are up at the start, with all the main markets up by about half a percentage point; Milan at +0.57%. The trade agreement signed yesterday between the United States and Great Britain brings back optimism, albeit moderate. London, however, remains a little weaker than the others, +0.39% after closing in the red yesterday - an effect of the monetary policy decisions of the Bank of England. In Milan, eyes are also focused on the quarterly results today. Asian stock markets are performing in no particular order: Tokyo is doing very well, closing up 1.5%; Mumbai is more nervous, falling by almost one percentage point due to growing tensions on the border between India and Pakistan. Chinese stock markets are little moved, suspended between hopes of a clearing up on the tariff front and uncertainties on the trade context, after mixed data from the April trade balance. Which shows an overall surplus in sharp increase, exceeding 96 billion dollars, going well beyond analysts' expectations, but exports to the United States down by almost 18%.