Nikkei retreats from 8-wk high on profit-taking before election

TOKYO, July 19 | Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:15am BST
(Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average dropped in very choppy trade on Friday after climbing to an eight-week peak earlier in the session, with traders citing selling of futures led by global macro funds before the upper house election this weekend.

The benchmark Nikkei fell 1.5 percent to 14,589.91, after trading as low as 14,413.28 and as high as 14,953.29, a level not seen since May 24. Yet the index rose 0.6 percent on the week, its fifth straight weekly gain.

The broader Topix slipped 0.8 percent to 1,211.98.

FTSE100 firmly lower in early deals, led down by the miners

GBP Public Sector Net Borrowing 10.2B 9.4B 10.5B

FTSE100 remained lower at midday, with miners a drag

CAD Core CPI m/m -0.2% -0.2% 0.2%

CAD CPI m/m 0.0% 0.2% 0.2%

Late rally helps the FTSE100 end the session little changed

Have a great weekend all!

Keep cool.... ;)

G.