LONDON (ShareCast) - The FTSE 100 had fallen firmly into negative territory by Monday lunchtime as markets focused on the impending 'fiscal cliff' in the US.

"After a quiet open European stocks are weaker across the board this morning as traders temper their risk appetites over concerns that talks in Washington will push past the end-of-year deadline," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

The 'fiscal cliff' has been dominating market sentiment over the past month, as law-makers in the US continue to go back and forth in discussions to avert automatic spending cuts and tax increases which come into effect at the start of 2013. House Speaker John Boehner is facing increasing pressure to soften his stance on higher taxes.

Hewson said: "The first green shoots of compromise have started to emerge from the cracks in recent days, but there is a strong sense that more must be done on both sides of the political divide if an agreement is to be reached."

Stock futures in the US were pointing to a flat start, with eyes focused on the Empire state manufacturing index due on in just under two hours' time. Consensus estimates are for a rise to -1 in December, from -5.22 previously.

Markets were also digesting this weekend's election in Japan, where the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) took 294 seats in the 480-seat lower house. With its partner Komeito, the LDP will control 325 seats.

LDP leader Shinzo Abe, who is pro-stimulus, said: “It is time to put an end to the last three years of inept political leadership, confusion and stagnation."

FTSE 100: Aggreko tanks on gloomy guidance

Temporary power and temperature control solutions group Aggreko plummeted this morning after giving a gloomy outlook for next year, saying that its performance would likely be lower than the 2012. Investec has downgraded its rating for the stock from 'buy' to 'hold' this morning.

Telecoms group Vodafone fell, tracking Dutch peer KPN lower after it paid more than expected to secure bandwidth, prompting the company to cancel its dividend and reduce its forecast payout for 2013.

Oil titan BP has agreed to sell its interest in the Sean gas field in the UK North Sea to SSE for €288m in cash. Both stocks were in the red.

Global power systems company Rolls-Royce was out of favour despite winning a contract to supply waterjets for the Finnish navy’s new high speeds landing craft.

Advertising giant WPP fell after saying that it has agreed to acquire Filmworks China, an entertainment marketing agency in China, through its global media investment management arm GroupM.

FTSE 250: Centamin rockets after exports resumed

Egypt-focused gold mining and exporting company Centamin surged after confirming that the halt by customs on gold exports from Sukari has been lifted and a shipment was made on Sunday December 16th. Centamin's shares took a battering last week when it said that it has been forced to suspend mining at its flagship Sukari mine after fuel supplies and gold export issues.

Energy services group Hunting dropped after it said that it is trading in line with its expectations for the full year but cautioned that the short-term outlook is increasingly cautious due to tough market conditions in a number of its operating regions.



FTSE 100 - Risers
Kazakhmys (KAZ) 772.00p +1.85%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 176.00p +1.32%
Polymetal International (POLY) 1,189.00p +1.19%
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,146.00p +0.97%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 347.80p +0.96%
Pennon Group (PNN) 630.50p +0.96%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,114.00p +0.81%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,416.00p +0.77%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 2,110.50p +0.74%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,833.50p +0.38%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Aggreko (AGK) 1,769.00p -16.75%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 156.35p -2.86%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 718.50p -2.11%
Bunzl (BNZL) 1,046.00p -1.78%
Serco Group (SRP) 534.50p -1.29%
Wolseley (WOS) 2,796.00p -1.27%
Capita (CPI) 754.00p -1.11%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,212.00p -1.02%
G4S (GFS) 250.10p -0.95%
BT Group (BT.A) 235.40p -0.93%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 44.20p +27.60%
Sports Direct International (SPD) 385.90p +5.04%
African Barrick Gold (ABG) 436.00p +3.32%
New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 277.30p +2.97%
Kentz Corporation Ltd. (KENZ) 404.90p +2.82%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 240.90p +2.82%
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 109.50p +2.24%
Grainger (GRI) 118.30p +2.16%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 653.50p +1.79%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 558.00p +1.73%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Hunting (HTG) 759.50p -5.77%
Soco International (SIA) 353.70p -3.70%
AZ Electronic Materials SA (DI) (AZEM) 342.40p -3.36%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 110.50p -3.07%
Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 94.20p -2.89%
Dialight (DIA) 1,016.00p -2.40%
Synthomer (SYNT) 180.70p -2.32%
Betfair Group (BET) 728.00p -2.28%
Filtrona PLC (FLTR) 564.50p -2.25%
QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 185.90p -2.16%

BC

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