FTSE 100 to start Thursday on the front foot

The FTSE 100 is set to start Thursday on the front foot although through this shortened week markets are marking time somewhat.

CFD firm IG Markets sees the London benchmark up around 16 points, making a price of 7,113 to 7,116 with just over an hour to go until the open.

US employment stats – the first of which comes out tonight – are the main macro-focus along with European PMI data, also due later. The monthly stats come as inflation remains not very far from policy maker’s thinking, and the usual central bank second-guessing is bound to follow shortly after the respective prints.

The corporate diary is quite light again in this bank holiday week, albeit discount retailer B&M and water utility Pennon are among the notable names in the book for Thursday.

Last night saw a muted but slightly positive markets.

Wall Street finished Wednesday positively, albeit only slightly. The Dow Jones added just 25 points or 0.07% closing at 34,600, whilst the S&P 500 similarly gained just 0.14% to finish the day at 4,308.

The Nasdaq was up 19 points or 0.14% ending Wednesday at 13,756.

In Asia, trading was mixed. Japan’s Nikkei advanced 131 points or 0.45% to 29,076.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 184 points or 0.6% lower to 29,121, whilst the Shanghai Composite edged slightly higher to trade at 3,606.

Around the markets

The pound: 1.4152, down 0.13%

Gold: US$1,901 per ounce, down 0.35%

Silver: US$27.99 per ounce, down 0.59%

Brent Crude: US$71.89 per barrel, up 2.3%

WTI Crude: US$69.34 per barrel, up 2.4%

Bitcoin: US$38,793, up 5.56%

Story by ProactiveInvestors