What you need to know before the open – 05/02
Europe is set to open marginally lower this morning.
35 minutes to go and the FTSE100 looks set to open down 20, at 6429.
— David Jones (@JonesTheMarkets) February 5, 2014
US data that shows the impact of wintery weather, along with ongoing concern over economic slowdown in China are keeping investors cautious.
In focus today are Markit’s service PMIs and the ADP jobs report over in the US.
Asian markets remained depressed with the Nikkei up just 1.23 per cent and the Hang Seng down 0.85 per cent.
Key events:
- Spain Markit services PMI for January at 8.13am. Expected at 54.8 from 54.2.
- Italy Markit services PMI for January at 8.43am. Expected at 48.6 from 47.9.
- France Markit services PMI for January at 8.48am. Expected at 48.6 from 47.8.
- German Markit services PMI for January at 8.53am. Expected at 53.6 from 53.5.
- EU Markit services PMI for January at 8.58am. Expected at 51.9 from 51.0.
- UK Markit services PMI for January at 9.28am. Expected at 59.0 from 58.8.
- US MBA mortgage applications (31 January) ay 12.00pm.
- US ADP employment change for January at 1.15pm. Expected at 180,000 from 238,000.
- US Markit services PMI for January at 1.58pm.
- US ISM non-manufacturing PMI for January at 3.00pm. Expected at 53.7 from 53.0.