Snapshot at 8.20am
The FTSE 100 was up 20 points to 6,878.
The top winner was Antofagasta (LON:ANTO), up 2% to 554p as it benefits from the recovery in copper and the recent turning point in a mine dispute.
The biggest loser was Pearson (LON:PSON), down 1.6% to 868.5p. (Ex-dividend) the group failed to meet expectations last month, investor confidence appears to be waning.
News:
- Jubilee Platinum encouraged by operational improvements at Dilokong
- Tullow Oil confirms TEN start up on time and on budget
- Aminex and Solo hail first gas payment
Preview at 6.56am
The FTSE 100 is tipped to open higher on Thursday morning after UK markets finished lower yesterday, led by losses in mining sector stocks.
The likes of Glencore International PLC (LON:GLEN), Anglo American PLC (LON:AAL) and Antofagasta Plc (LON:ANTO) all shed more than 2% in Wednesday's trading, while motor insurer Admiral Group PLC (LON: ADM) also weighed on the FTSE.
Spread betting quotes suggest the FTSE 100 will open around 33 points higher at 6,892 to recapture most of yesterday’s losses.
In the US markets, the Dow Jones closed 22 points higher at 18, 574, while the S&P 500 index was also up slightly at 2,182.
Markets in Asia were trading mostly higher this morning, with the Hang Seng index up over 1%, or 242 points, to 23,042.
The notable exception to that was the Nikkei 225, which moved in the opposite direction and is on course for a fall of around 1.5%, or 260 points, to around the 16,486 mark.
Some big US stocks will publish results later on today, including retail giant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc (NYSE:WMT) and Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS).