Asian markets closed down, with Hong Kong protests continuing. European stocks were lower ahead of details from the ECB about its asset buying program.
Here are five things that matter for markets now:
- Students in Hong Kong have given a deadline for today to the city's chief executive Leung Chun-ying to resign or see protests escalating. The pro-democracy demonstrations have blocked the city's streets for nearly a week.
- Shares in German investor in online businesses Rocket Internet fell below their debut in their IPO on the Frankfurt stock exchange. Rocket priced its offer on Wednesday at the top end of the range, with traders saying it was 10x oversubscribed.
- Saudi bank National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest lender, plans the second-largest IPO this year after Alibaba (BABA). The bank plans to raise $6 billion from the listing on the Saudi Stock Exchange. There are restrictions on foreigners investing on the Saudi stock exchange.
- Security sources and officials in Iraq quoted by Reuters say militants have taken over most of the city of Hit, in the west of the country.
- Investors withdrew $23.5 billion from Pimco in September, with the bulk of the outflows recorded after the announcement of the departure of manager Bill Gross.
At the time of publication, Antonia Oprita had no positions in any of the securities mentioned.