FTSE preview: Shares up, miners in focus
The FTSE 100 index is seen gaining on Wednesday, recovering after sharp falls in the previous session, with miners likely to be in focus as production figures from Rio Tinto and Fresnillo come under scrutiny.
Watching brief: Eyes will be on unemployment data.
The UK blue chip index looks set to advance 20 to 22 points, or as much as 0.4%, according to financial bookmakers, after it closed down 88.97 points, or 1.5% lower, at 5,964.47 points on Tuesday.
In terms of domestic economic data, UK February unemployment numbers are due.
Across the Atlantic, US March retail sales figures are out, US February business inventories are due, and the Federal Reserve's Beige Book is set for publication after the London market's close.
Ex-dividend factors will knock 2.43 points off the FTSE 100 index on Wednesday, with Aggreko, BG Group, Capita, IMI, Old Mutual, Tullow Oil, and John Wood Group all trading without their payout attractions.
Rio Tinto reported a 3% fall in iron ore output and a 12% drop in hard coking-coal production in a first quarter that was marred by floods and cyclones in Australia.
But the company said operations were recovering, and forecast its iron ore production for 2011 to total 191m tonnes, roughly in line with market expectations.
There will be production figures from Fresnillo and updates from Asos, WS Atkins. JD Sports, Smiths News and Styles & Wood post results.
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