LONDON (ShareCast) - London-listed stocks are expected to get December off to a weak start, with City sources predicting the FTSE 100 will open around 40 points below Friday's close of 6,722.62.
The anticipated drop will track losses in Asia overnight which came after the latest reading of the official purchasing managers index (PMI) for China came in below expectations at an eight-month low, adding to concerns about the state of the world's second-largest economy.

Government data showed that the China manufacturing PMI fell to 50.3 last month, down from October's reading of 50.8 and under consensus forecast of 50.5.

Meanwhile, the final reading of the unofficial Chinese manufacturing report by HSBC confirmed that the sector stagnated in November, with the PMI falling to the 50-point mark which separates expansion from contraction.

PMI data is also due to be released for Europe, with France predicted to be a particular sore point at 47.6. Spain is expected to come in higher at 53.1, while Germany is set to remain at 50.

In Monday morning's company news, oil and gas firm BG Group has announced it has revised the remuneration package for its new chief executive. The firm had come under intense pressure from its shareholders for proposing a £25m for its new chief Helge Lund, who will now receive £10.6m in shares, rather than the original sum.

Construction group Carillion is expanding in the power business by buying a 60% stake in Canada's Rokstad Power Corporation for up to £33m. Rokstad, based in British Columbia, provides a full range of transmission and distribution power line services, including specialist live line operations, and has expanded its operations in strategic locations primarily across Canada.

Annual underlying profits at asset manager Aberdeen inched higher in the year to 30 September despite a "more challenging environment", as the company hiked its dividend by over a tenth. Underlying pre-tax profit totalled £490.3m, up 2% on the £482.7m made the year before. The final dividend was raised to 11.25p per share, lifting the full-year payout to 18p, up from 16p previously.

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