Snapshot at 8.15am
The FTSE 100 was muted this morning, with London's blue chip index down just over 1 point to 6,867.
The top winner was easyJet PLC (LON:EZJ) up 2% to 1,100p. An extension of a partnership with Amadeus earlier this week strengthened the airline’s evolving growth strategy.
The biggest loser was Provident Financial PLC (LON:PFG), down 1.25% to 2,849p.
News:
- IOG: Skipper exploration draws a blank
- App-y days as NetScientific’s portfolio company Wanda launches phone app
- Polo's investee company Blackham raises funds
Preview at 6.56am
Summer paralysis appears to have set in with the FTSE 100 set to open in subdued mood.
The index of blue chip shares is slated to lose 5 points at the opening bell to 6,863.96 – leaving it stranded tantalisingly just below the 7,000 level most analyst thought at the start of the week it would breach.
In all honesty, there are few drivers, let a alone positive drivers, to propel the Footsie forward.
Wall Street was becalmed with movements miniscule and volumes light. The Dow Jones fell 0.1%, the tech-focused NASDAQ was unchanged, while the S&P 500 rose 0.2%.
In Asia the picture mixed, although the movements too were minor with Japan’s Nikkei 225 oscillating gently between positive and negative territory.
At 6.40am it was up 0.2%, recouping losses inflicted by the strengthening yen. In Hong Kong the Hang Seng lost 0.3%, as were Shanghai quoted shares were also down.
Equity markets were given a little shot in the arm as it emerged that OPEC has finally ready to hold talks over the world over-supply of oil.
Brent ticked up a cent in early trade to US$50.90, after advancing 2% on Thursday.
*Gold US$1.20 higher at US$1,352.40.
*Pound worth US$1.31.
City Headlines
*Rumour: Canadian pension fund, thought to be Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, approached Lloyd’s of London insurer Lancashire Holdings before Britain’s referendum on leaving the European Union about taking the company private – Daily Mail.
*A whistle blower who helped to expose false accounting at Deutsche Bank has turned down a multimillion-dollar award from the Securities and Exchange Commission in protest against the agency’s failure to punish executives at the bank – Times.
*The City is pushing for a bespoke Brexit deal amid rising fears that maintaining full access to the EU single market will be impossible – Telegraph.