London's FTSE 100 opened lower Friday with Investors on edge ahead of Friday’s release of the US December nonfarm payrolls (NFP) report.
This could offer clues about Federal Reserve policy and market direction, which have dominated market thinking this week. Consensus estimates point to 153,000 jobs added and unemployment unchanged at 4.2%.
London’s blue-chip index shed 13 points in early deals to 8,309 with Sainsbury’s weak even though the supermarket, like rival Tesco, reported its best Christmas ever.
Sales climbed by 3.8% over the six weeks to January 4, and profit guidance for the year was raised but its shares fell 2% as the group added it was raising wages by 5% to £12.60 a hour and would pay for it through higher prices.
Mobile group Vodafone has completed the sale of its stake in Indus Towers for US$330 million. Some 79.2 million shares, equating to 3% of the Indian mobile tower installation company were sold.
Finally, shipping specialist Clarkson rose 4% after indicating underlying profits this year would be slightly higher than market forecasts and at least £115 million.