London pre-open: Sell-off expected to continue ahead of busy session
The sell-off is expected to resume on Wednesday after a brief pause the previous session, with markets eyeing a number of key 'risk events' across the globe.
Dixons Retail
52.95p
16:15 06/08/14
FTSE 100
8,040.38
16:34 24/04/24
FTSE 350
4,419.71
17:09 24/04/24
FTSE All-Share
4,374.06
16:44 24/04/24
General Retailers
3,926.04
17:09 24/04/24
Media
11,814.38
17:09 24/04/24
WPP
803.80p
16:40 24/04/24
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 53 points lower than Tuesday’s close of 6,331.83.
The index had jumped 2.4% the previous session, snapping a six-day losing streak, as West Texas Intermediate crude futures rebounded after dipping below $55 a barrel, their lowest level since mid-2009.
Investors were likely to take a cautious approach on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision, a Greek presidency vote and minutes of the latest Bank of England meeting.
Meanwhile, there will also be a raft of economic data on tap, including unemployment figures in the UK, a final reading of November inflation in the Eurozone, and inflation numbers in the States.
“Market volatility appears to be the order of the week, as a range of economic and political announcements mean that we have seen traders find it difficult to know whether we should be coming or going,” said analyst Joshua Mahony from Alpari.
Stocks to watch
Advertising and media giant WPP has unveiled a successor to Philip Lader who announced his plan to step down as long-running chairman earlier this year.
The company said it has appointed Roberto Quarta as a non-executive director and chairman-designate, who will offer himself for re-election at a shareholder meeting next June. Quarta is currently the chairman of medical devices group Smith & Nephew and engineer IMI, and has previously held executive positions at numerous listed companies such as BBA, BAE Systems and Foster Wheeler.
Electrical retailer Dixons Carphone said a strong first half in the UK had put it in a good position in the run-up to Christmas, but it warned that Dutch and German trading was still tough and it was launching a review and restructuring.
Group first-half like-for-like revenue was up 5% and second-quarter like-for-like revenue rose 9%, with stable gross margins in the first half. Group pro-forma headline pre-tax profit lifted 30% to £78m.