LONDON (ShareCast) - - Greek aid deal lifts stocks
- OECD cuts growth forecasts
- UK Q3 GDP growth confirmed at one per cent

Stock markets across Europe were trading firmly in positive territory on Tuesday morning following last night's Greek aid deal; however the bounce was only moderate with analysts saying that the agreement, albeit several times delayed, was already 'priced in'.

Also limiting gains was the news that the OECD has slashed its 2013 growth forecasts for the world's advanced economies to 1.4%, from the 2.2% estimate in May. The OECD said that the global economy is "expected to make a hesitant and uneven recovery over the coming two years" and "decisive policy action is needed" in the Eurozone and US.

Eurozone finance ministers yesterday finally inked out an agreement on Greece, giving the green light to the disbursement of the next €43.7bn bailout tranche (€34.4bn will be issued next month and the remaining monies will be disbursed in the first quarter of 2013). Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras commented: "Everything has gone well. All Greeks have fought for this decision and tomorrow is a new day for every Greek person."

Athens has committed to reduce its debt load by €40bn with the debt target set to 124% of GDP by 2020, compared to the previous 120%. Although the new goal is less ambitious than earlier IMF demands, Greece has promised to bring its debt below 110% by 2022.

Market analyst Craig Erlam from Alpari said this morning: "While all markets are trading higher, the jump has only been moderate at best which would suggest that either the result was already priced into the markets, investors remain skeptical despite the agreement, or both.

"Either of these is plausible given that a failure to come to some agreement would have left Greece unable to service its debt which could in turn have led a Greek default and potential exit from the Eurozone. This scenario was in no one’s interest as the outcome would surely plunge the Eurozone deeper into recession."

In domestic news, the latest revision of the UK's third-quarter GDP figures left the growth rate unchanged at 1% quarter-on-quarter. Commentators were quick to point out despite the solid quarter-on-quarter growth, this was down to temporary factors, such as the boost from the Olympics.

In other news, speaking before the Treasury Select Committee Governor Mervyn King has indicated that: "if we saw signs of quantitative easing (QE) feeding through to inflation it would be time to make a sharp change to monetary policy."

Bank of England executive director for markets Paul Fisher has gone on record as saying that more QE may be needed next year but that the inflation data dissuaded him from voting for more QE in November. Ben Broadbent told the Committee much the same but he also mentioned the coupon transfer as having played a role in his decision.

FTSE 100: Financials provide a lift

Banking peers Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Barclays were registering decent gains as investors built positions in 'riskier' assets. RBS was benefitting this morning from an rating upgrade by UBS to 'buy'. Meanwhile, Barclays Capital raised its target price for both RBS and Lloyds, helping provide a lift to shares.

In contrast, Aberdeen Asset Management was among the worst performers of the morning after Citigroup downgraded its recommendation for the stock to 'neutral'.

Mining giant Xstrata gained after saying that its Antapcaccay mine in southern Peru started producing commercial grade copper at the start of the month and has already delivered its first shipment to customers.

Utilities group Severn Trent was subdued after underlying profit before interest and tax fell 2.6% in the first half, reflecting planned increased investment in networks and customers service in its water division.

Vodafone, the telecoms giant involved in the development of the M-Pesa service in Africa, rose after announcing that from Tuesday 27th the service's Kenyan customers will have access to interest bearing saving accounts and have the ability to take out small loans through a new service, called M-Shwari.

FTSE 250: Mitchells & Butlers disappoints with outlook

Mitchells & Butlers, the UK's largest operator of managed restaurants and pub, was unwanted after noting it had made a slow start to the new financial year, partly because of unseasonably warm weather in the same period in 2011.

Broadband and communications provider KCOM fell after reporting a slight fall in revenue and a large rise in net debt in the first half, its first increase in net debt in four years following seven consecutive six-month periods of reduction.

British defence-equipment maker Chemring, which scaled back full-year profit guidance earlier this month, surged this morning after saying that expectations for the full year remain unchanged since its last update.


FTSE 100 - Risers
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 294.40p +3.26%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 46.36p +2.79%
Standard Life (SL.) 312.30p +2.03%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 752.00p +1.55%
Aggreko (AGK) 2,213.00p +1.42%
Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 238.10p +1.36%
Evraz (EVR) 241.00p +1.22%
Polymetal International (POLY) 1,087.00p +1.21%
Fresnillo (FRES) 2,003.00p +1.21%
Weir Group (WEIR) 1,801.00p +1.18%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Pearson (PSON) 1,162.00p -1.86%
ITV (ITV) 95.80p -1.03%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 333.00p -0.89%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 169.00p -0.82%
CRH (CRH) 1,102.00p -0.81%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,278.00p -0.78%
Croda International (CRDA) 2,316.00p -0.73%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,584.00p -0.63%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 374.30p -0.51%
New Melrose (MRO) 213.20p -0.37%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 33.10p +4.38%
Chemring Group (CHG) 240.00p +4.35%
New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 248.00p +2.82%
Hunting (HTG) 790.50p +2.66%
Informa (INF) 415.70p +2.52%
SEGRO (SGRO) 232.00p +2.43%
Unite Group (UTG) 268.40p +2.25%
Pace (PIC) 181.00p +2.09%
Bodycote (BOY) 402.10p +2.03%
Bumi (BUMI) 263.00p +1.94%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 313.30p -5.35%
Cranswick (CWK) 790.00p -2.77%
Regus (RGU) 94.90p -2.57%
Lonmin (LMI) 277.80p -2.35%
Essar Energy (ESSR) 124.10p -2.28%
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 102.90p -2.19%
KCOM Group (KCOM) 69.75p -2.17%
Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 2,792.00p -2.04%
ITE Group (ITE) 190.70p -2.00%
Man Group (EMG) 75.45p -1.82%

BC

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