A News Agency

According to analysts, the UK’s FTSE index is set to open 0.2% lower, while Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40 and Italy’s FTSE MIB are expected to open down 0.4%. In pre-market trading, futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 fell by around 0.3%.

Regional markets edged higher on Monday as investors digested remarks from this year’s Munich Security Conference.

Investors’ focus remains on earnings. Mining companies Antofagasta and BHP Group, along with InterContinental Hotels Group and EssilorLuxottica, are set to report earnings on Tuesday. Data releases include Germany’s inflation and economic sentiment index, UK unemployment figures, and ZEW economic sentiment surveys for the Eurozone and Germany.

Overnight, S&P 500 futures were nearly flat after the index posted two consecutive negative weeks; U.S. markets were closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day.

Asian financial markets traded cautiously on Tuesday in thin holiday trading. Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.5%, while the broader Topix Index declined 0.2% to 3,779.29 points. In Australia, the S&P/ASX200 Index traded about 0.5% higher.

Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds fell by 1 basis point to 4.044% on Tuesday, reaching their lowest level since early December. Japan’s five-year bond yield declined by 2 basis points to 1.65%, marking its lowest level since February 2.