FTSE preview: Shares up; Diageo, Kazakhmys
The FTSE 100 expected to rise today thanks to US gains overnight and with UK corporate earnings coming from companies including Kazakhmys and Diageo.
Market watcher: Shares are seen rising.
The UK blue chip index looks set to gain between 43 to 47 points, or as much as 0.9%, according to financial bookmakers, after it fell to a seven-week closing low on Wednesday - down 46.55 points, or 0.9%, at 5,109.40.
US stocks staged a comeback on Wednesday, breaking a four-day losing streak by major indexes, as key technical support triggered bargain hunting that offset weak economic data.
Data showed new single-family home sales slumped to a record slow pace in July and orders for manufactured durable goods rose far less than anticipated.
And Asian stocks rose on Thursday as investors hunted for bargains among recently beaten-down shares, while the yen pulled further away from 15-year highs as investors wondered whether Japanese officials would take fresh steps to curb the currency's strength and spur economic growth.
In terms of domestic economic data, investors are waiting for August's UK CBI distributive trades survey, scheduled for release.
Italian oil major Eni Spa would consider buying BP assets in which it already has a stake if they were put up for sale, Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore said on Thursday, citing Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni.
Also, BP's efforts to fish out pipe remnants inside equipment atop its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well delayed retrieval of a failed blowout preventer, the top official overseeing the oil spill response said.
BHP Billiton's chief executive flies to North America this week to crank up the charm offensive with Potash Corp shareholders after dousing expectations he would sweeten a $39bn bid for the fertilizer giant.
Korea National Oil Corp said it had posted offer documents to Dana Petroleum shareholders as it pressed ahead with its hostile takeover bid for the British firm.
There will be updates today from Kazakhmys, Diageo, Amec, Secro, G4S, Carillion, CPP Group, Filtrona, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imi, International, Petropavlovsk, Premier Oil, Salmander, Savills, Unite Group and William Hill.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- Blue Whale fund manager on the best of the Magnificent 7
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- How to invest for income and growth: SAINTS' James Dow
- Tesla unveils new Model 3 Performance - it's the fastest ever!
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Mini celebrates the release of brand new all-electric car Mini Aceman
- 2025 Aston Martin DBX707: More luxury but comes with a higher price
- Land Rover unveil newest all-electric Range Rover SUV
- Mail Online takes a tour of Gatwick's modern EV charging station
- Mercedes has finally unveiled its new electric G-Class
- Air Mauritius lost my luggage and it ruined my holiday:...
- We do need to resolve inequality admits £8m-a-year...
- Snoop Dogg cannabis firm to ditch London after losing 97%...
- Banks should be forced to disclose why they debank small...
- Spring property bounce is a damp squib - Rics estate...
- Hedge fund tycoon's £34m silver salvage claim sunk at the...
- Millions kept in the dark over City watchdog's mystery...
- TSB to close one in six branches: More than 6,000 shut by...
- Oil industry engineer Wood Group rejects £1.4bn Dubai...
- Don't ditch name and shame plan - it has the City running...
- MARKET REPORT: IAG leads Footsie higher as airline shares...
- Tesco uses AI to give millions of Clubcard holders...
- Brewdog founder James Watt steps down to become 'captain'...
- Events planner Informa hikes share buyback scheme to £500m
- Investors pull cash out of UK equity funds for the 35th...
- JLR offering £150 a month towards the cost of insuring...
- Controversial Brewdog founder James Watt steps downs
- Minis new electric Cooper SE tested: Can BMW harness the...