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FTSE 100 set for positive start as UK enters election mode

Published: 06:45 30 Mar 2015 BST

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The FTSE 100 is expected to open its account in positive territory as the UK moved into election mode following the dissolution of parliament.

The picture was mixed overnight with the Shanghai Composite up almost 2%, hitting a seven-year amid the prospect of further fiscal stimulus, while Australia’s ASX fell 1.3% as commodity prices weakened.

The FTSE 100 is seen opening 30 points to the good at 6,885.02, according to the spread-betting firm IG.

Here in Europe’s Greece’s continued haggling with its creditors could add a little uncertainty to European markets as the Easter-shortened week progresses.

In the US, jobs data provides the biggest piece of economic news.

The main scheduled corporate headlines here in the UK are expected to be made by the retailers this week with Marks & Spencer (LON:MKS) and Kingfisher (LON:KGF) reporting.

For High Street bellwether M&S the City broker Investec is predicting a like-for-like sales decline in the fourth quarter of 0.4% in the company’s biggest division, general merchandise. 

This is a substantial improvement on the 5.8% decline in the third quarter.

As has been the case for years now, the food side of things is looking a lot healthier, and here Investec tips a 0.3% year-on-year increase in LFL sales, up from 0.1% in the third quarter.

 


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