European markets were all down overnight. Pundits are putting...

European markets were all down overnight. Pundits are putting the falls down to profit taking and not on any changes in fundamentals.

The FTSE closed down 18 points (.22%), the DAX fell 34 points (.18%) and the CAC fell20 points (.26%).

In the US, markets were mixed.

The DOW was up 134 points (.34%), the NBI fell 19 points (.45%), the NASDAQ Composite fell 12 points (.074%) and the Russell small cap index fell less than 1 point (.025%).

First time that the DOW has closed above 40,000 points. The DOW has doubled in points since 2017 - largely driven by tech stocks (Apple and Microsoft among the main movers).

US Treasury 10 year bond yield is up to 4.42%.

Oil prices have risen - Brent crude at US$83.95 per barrel.

The gold price is up to record levels - US$2,416 per oz. Precious metal prices rose significantly overnight with a big rise in the silver price as well - up 6% to US$31.50 per oz. This is the highest price since 2013.

BITCOIN price also surged overnight - now at US$ 67,011.