LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: futures inch lower as busy week draws to a close

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES INCH LOWER AS BUSY WEEK DRAWS TO A CLOSE

European equity futures are a touch softer on Friday, as markets round off a busy week that has seen the Fed, BOJ and BoE all hold interest rates steady, but highlight heightened uncertainty.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are down 0.2%, but the index is still heading for a small weekly rise.

Futures on the DAX FDXc1 and CAC FCEc1 are down 0.3%, while FTSE FFIc1 futures are flat.

Attention will likely be on airlines at the open after a huge fire has closed Europe's busiest and the world's fifth busiest airport, Heathrow. British Airways, owned by IAG ICAG.L, had 341 flights scheduled to land at the airport on Friday.

Looking ahead, the vote on Germany's mammoth fiscal package takes place today in the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament. The vote is the last major hurdle the package has to clear before being signed into law.

(Samuel Indyk)

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