The FTSE 100 is projected to open with a 0.1% loss today after surging 0.8% in Wednesday’s session.
Hedge fund manager Man Group (LON:EMG) led the blue chips, advancing 4.7%. Essar Energy (LON:ESSR) and airline British Airways (LON:BAY) surged 4.5%. Base metal miner Anglo American (LON:AAL) climbed 4.2%, while peers Kazakhmys (LON:KAZ) and Xstrata (LON:XTA) and platinum producer Lonmin (LON:LMI) tacked on nearly 4%.
Software developer Autonomy Corporation (LON:AU) was the heaviest faller in the FTSE 100, plummeting 16% on a profit warning. Car insurer Admiral Group (LON:ADM) was a distant second with a 4.4% loss. Chipmaker ARM Holdings (LON:ARM) followed, shedding 2.7%. Energy company Centrica (LON:CNA) and beverage group SABMiller (LON:SAB) dropped 1.5%. Software company Sage Group (LON:SGE), bank Standard Chartered (LON:STAN) and gold producer Randgold Resources (LON:RRS) lost just over 1%.
US stocks were mixed yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, the broader S&P 500 index shed 0.1% and the technology heavy NASDAQ composite declined 0.8%.
Asian markets were in selling mode. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.2%, South Korea’s KOSPI was down 0.4% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 went against the tide, adding 0.1%.
Commodities
Oil prices moved higher. November Brent Crude rose to US$85.47/barrel, while US light, sweet crude for November delivery reached US$83.72/barrel
Precious metals were on the rise with gold reaching US$1,353/oz, while silver and platinum improved to US$23.30/oz and US$1,715/oz respectively.
Base metals followed. Copper and nickel climbed to US$3.75/lb and US$11.26/lb respectively, while zinc rose to US$1.04/lb.
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank will announce their interest rate decisions today. Jobless claims and consumer credit data will be out in the US today.