Bank of England holds interest rates at 5.25% for sixth time in a row - what it means for YOUR mortgages and savings
No saving this popular family car: Ford confirms it will cull another of its best-selling petrol models next year to focus on EVs despite demand slump
Scottish Power says our energy meters are now too old - is this a ruse to force us to get a smart meter?
Our mortgage valuation says the house we're buying is worth £40,000 less: What should we do and can we appeal?
CRANE ON THE CASE: Air Mauritius lost my luggage and ruined my holiday but its compensation offer is terrible - what can I do?
Are you a Wetherspoon lover or hater? LEE BOYCE and SIMON LAMBERT have very different opinions on the pub giant that's flying high...
I want to invest £600 a year for my new baby, what is the best way to do it - and how much could it grow to?
Artificial grass can lead to increased flooding risk, major insurer warns - so should you ever get a plastic lawn?
BUSINESS LIVE: BoE holds base rate at 5.25%; ITV eyes advertising market recovery; John Wood rejects £1.4bn takeover offer
We need more than a British Isa to move the dial on UK smaller companies, says fund manager ABBY GLENNIE
Blackstone set to acquire Hipgnosis Songs Fund after rival suitor Concord Music refuses to up £1.2bn offer
Avon Protection handed £38m gas mask contract by MoD after reported deployment of chemical agents in Ukraine
Watches of Switzerland buys Italy's Roberto Coin for £104m in bid to expand in the lucrative luxury jewellery market
BAE Systems tools-up for growth as US ups support for Ukraine and Britain plots defence spending boost
Get 5.6% interest with this quirky 365-day notice savings account that beats the top one-year fixed rates
Spring property bounce is a damp squib: Estate agents says rising mortgage rates keep buyers at bay
Zoning out: Why London renters are swapping Clapham and Camden for Abbey Wood and Forest Gate
JLR offers £150 a month towards the cost of insuring new Range Rover models to encourage sales after theft concerns
Ford boss says it may restrict petrol models in the UK to hit EV sales targets and avoid crippling fines
Used car sales hit a five-year high as fresh supply of second-hand motors enter the market and prices drop
Scottish Widows gave me access to a stranger's £40,000 pension - so could they get at my six-figure pot?
FCA's name and shame plan has the City running scared - that's why they SHOULDN'T ditch it: ALEX BRUMMER
How much would a rate cut save you? Use our interest rate rise or fall mortgage calculator
How do we stop our troubled child gambling away their inheritance? We can't just exclude one of our five children

FTSE 100 preview: Shares flat; Jobs news

By Reuters
Updated: 02:47 EDT, 15 September 2010

View
comments

The FTSE 100 is seen opening down 4 points to up 3 points on Wednesday, hovering around a four month high, with investors reluctant to take big positions without more corporate or economic newsflow for direction.

Dealers monitor their screens on the trading floor of IG Index in London

Flat opening: No bigmovements are expected this morning.

The FTSE 100 is seen, by financial bookmakers, opening 0.1% higher to 0.1% lower after it inched up 1.88 points to 5,567.41 on Tuesday, its highest close since the end of April.

There was little from the United States to inspire any significant moves on Britain's share index. The S&P 500 ended little changed as positive retail sales data failed to fuel an enthusiastic response among equity investors.

While US and European markets were becalmed, there were sharp moves in Japan after the authorities intervened in the foreign exchange markets for the first time in six years, pushing its currency sharply lower and lifting the Nikkei up 2.7%.

Investors will watch UK unemployment data for more guidance on the outlook for the UK economy.

The claimant count for August is forecast to have fallen by 3,000. The ILO unemployment rate for July is forecast to hold steady at 7.8%.

BHP Billiton plans to stick with its agreement with Australia's Labor government to accept a 30% tax on coal and iron ore profits, chief executive Marius Kloppers said on Wednesday.

The company also called for Australia's Labor government to set out a clear price signal on carbon as it reviews its emissions trading proposal.

BP reported flaring on Tuesday at its 265,000 barrel-per-day Los Angeles-area refinery in Carson, California, according to a notice filed with California pollution regulators.

Separately, the British oil major was cited for safety lapses in a number of North Sea installations in 2009, a Financial Times report said on the day outgoing Chief Executive Tony Hayward addresses an inquiry into the risks of UK deep water drilling.

There will be results today from Next, Galliford Try and Photo-Me International.

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.