Shares, stocks and corporate news: What you need to know before the open
The FTSE is expected to begin the week cautiously as the markets continue to absorb a dramatic week in the UK and a pair of surprises from overseas.
The FTSE 100 is expected to open trading up 3 points at 6,796, while the German DAX is predicted 14 points higher at 10,381, and the French CAC is expected to open 2 points higher at 4,413.
The value of sterling remains down following last week's big interest rate decision from the Bank of England, which saw the base rate cut to 0.25 per cent alongside a dramatic extension in quantitative easing.
The pound dropped from $1.3325 on 3 August to $1.3085 by the end of the week, and figures from Lloyds Bank have this morning shown that London businesses were harder hit by the EU referendum result than many in other parts of the UK.
At the same time, investors are also weighing up stronger than expected jobs numbers out of the US, which showed an additional 255,000, while figures from China showed imports and exports fell more-than-expected in dollar-denominated terms in July.
Meanwhile, the market also prepares for another busy week of results. NewsCorp and Hertz are among the firms to declare their performance today, with the likes of Legal and General, G4S and Alibaba set to follow in the coming days.
Corporates
- Biotechnology business Shire Group reported earnings of $1.9bn for the six months to 30 June, up 36 per cent on the same period last year following the acquisition of pharmaceuticals business Baxalta.
Data
- 14.00 Fed US Labor Market Conditions Index (Jul)
- 23.01 British Retail Consortium Retail Sales Monitor