FTSE 100 preview: Shares lower on dollar strength
The FTSE 100 is seen opening down, with a recent rally in commodity stocks looking to tail off as the US dollar strengthens after comments from Fed boss Ben Bernanke.
Friday feeling: Shares are expected to fall today.
The FTSE 100 index closed 45.74 points higher on Thursday at 5,154.64, buoyed by strength in the miners on firmer metals prices and optimism over demand prospects.
The US dollar rose on Friday, with comments from the Federal Reserve chairman, which indicated US monetary policy might have to be tightened as a recovery takes hold, helping to pull the greenback off 14-month lows against a basket of currencies.
UK input costs and 'factory gate' inflation will form a focus early on Friday, with September producer price inflation (PPI) numbers due for release.
UK PPI input prices are seen down 0.8% month-on-month in September, after a 2.2% rise in August, with PPI output numbers seen up 0.1% in September after a 0.2% rise the previous month.
UK August trade balance numbers will also be released at and US August trade figures are also due on Friday.
The Canadian and Alberta governments have promised C$865m to help the oil major develop carbon capture and storage at its oil sands processing plant as they seek to meet goals to cut emissions and curb global warming.
BT is to more than double the number of homes able to use its ultra-fast broadband network, the head of BT unit Openreach told the Financial Times, in a big expansion of its original next-generation infrastructure plans.
The US Department of Transportation's consumer protection division is investigating an error by BA which allowed thousands of passengers to book airline tickets between US cities and the Indian subcontinent for a fare of just $40, reported The Guardian.
The government is to start examining the loan pricing mechanisms of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, suspecting that they are pricing loans to small and medium-sized businesses at levels which are unaffordable for most smaller institutions, said the Financial Times.
JJB Sports, which came close to administration this year, said late on Thursday it planned to raise £100m in a share issue. There will be updates from John Wood Group and Robert Walters.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- Blue Whale fund manager on the best of the Magnificent 7
- How to invest for income and growth: SAINTS' James Dow
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Tesla unveils new Model 3 Performance - it's the fastest ever!
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- Mini celebrates the release of brand new all-electric car Mini Aceman
- Mail Online takes a tour of Gatwick's modern EV charging station
- 2025 Aston Martin DBX707: More luxury but comes with a higher price
- Land Rover unveil newest all-electric Range Rover SUV
- Mercedes has finally unveiled its new electric G-Class
- Boohoo sales plummet as debts surge
- Controversial Brewdog founder James Watt steps downs
- TSB to close one in six branches: More than 6,000 shut by...
- Hedge fund tycoon's £34m silver salvage claim sunk at the...
- Spring property bounce is a damp squib - Rics estate...
- BUSINESS LIVE: Boohoo sales slump; Wetherspoon's lifts...
- Direct Line customers faced higher prices in the first...
- Minis new electric Cooper SE tested: Can BMW harness the...
- MARKET REPORT: IAG leads Footsie higher as airline shares...
- Millions kept in the dark over City watchdog's mystery...
- Banks should be forced to disclose why they debank small...
- Wetherspoon's profits buoyed by Guinness boom among...
- Don't ditch name and shame plan - it has the City running...
- Snoop Dogg cannabis firm to ditch London after losing 97%...
- Investors pull cash out of UK equity funds for the 35th...
- JLR offering £150 a month towards the cost of insuring...
- Ford boss says it may restrict petrol models in the UK to...
- Oil industry engineer Wood Group rejects £1.4bn Dubai...