FTSE preview: Miners pressured; BP AGM
The FTSE 100 is seen edging lower, falling back after gains in the previous session, with miners likely to come under pressure.
In focus: BP faces anger at first AGM since Deepwater disaster
The blue chip index looks set to shed 4 to 10 points, according to financial bookmakers, after it ended up 45.97 points at 6,010.44 yesterday.
Miners will be in the spotlight after the copper price slipped on fears over further tightening from top consumer China ahead of economic data on Friday.
This expected to show the Chinese economy grew less quickly in the first quarter than the last quarter of 2010 but still strongly, and consumer inflation climbed to a 32-month high.
Across the Atlantic, US March producer prices data and US weekly jobless claims are both scheduled for release at 1230 GMT. And Google is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings.
'Markets are treading cautiously in the current environment whilst they wait for a clearer picture to emerge from the earnings season, and (with) continuing jitters about Japan's nuclear crisis,' said Jonathan Sudaria, a dealer at Capital Spreads.
In London, BP will be in focus as the oil major holds its annual general meeting, with investors concerned about its share-swap deal with Russia's Rosneft.
Meanwhile, first-half results are scheduled from department store group Debenhams and newspaper and books retailer WH Smith.
Retailers have endured a torrid time this year, with firms including electricals retailer Dixons, mother and baby goods chain Mothercare and music and books group HMV all having issued profit warnings in recent weeks.
The struggling sector was dealt a further blow earlier this week by a downbeat British Retail Consortium survey.
Stocks to watch today include:
Glencore International: Glencore plans to raise up to $12.1bn in a London and Hong Kong IPO, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters on Thursday, cashing in on a resources boom and giving the trading giant the fire power to grow through acquisitions.
BP: The oil major holds its annual general meeting.
Smith & Nephew: The artifical knees and hips maker holds its annual general meeting.
Rank Group: The bingo hall and casino operator issues a trading update.
Ashmore Group: The emerging markets fund manager issues a trading update.
Debenhams: The department store group reports first-half results.
WH Smith: The newspaper and books retailer reports first-half results.
Dunelm Group: The homewares retailer issues a trading update.
Filtrona: The plastic and fibre products supplier issues a trading update.
PZ Cussons: The soap and shampoo maker issues a trading update.
Amiad Filtration Systems: The water filter company reports full-year results.
Dori Media Group: The company reports full-year results.
Eega: The energy efficiency specialist issues a trading update.
Ideal Shopping Direct: The television shopping firm posts full-year results.
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