FTSE 100 to Edge Down as Attention Turns to U.S. Jobs Report

FTSE 100 Seen Opening Slightly Lower Before US Payrolls Data

0743 GMT - The FTSE 100 is seen opening slightly lower before the key U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, with spreadbetting firm IG expecting the London index to fall 4 points. It closed 66 points lower Thursday after the Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes suggested it could raise interest rates sooner than expected. The attention now turns to the nonfarm payrolls data at 1330 GMT. A strong payrolls number and lower-than-expected unemployment rate have the "power of boosting the Fed hawks" on the idea that the jobs market no longer needs the Fed's support and it could withdraw stimulus faster, Swissquote Bank analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya says.([e-mail])

 
Companies News: 

C&C Group 3Q Ahead of Expectations; 4Q Hurt by Covid-19 Restrictions

C&C Group PLC said Friday that its third quarter was modestly ahead of expectations but that its fourth quarter has been hurt by renewed Covid-19 restrictions.

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Air Partner Raises FY 2022 Profit Guidance Again

Air Partner PLC on Friday raised its profit expectations for the second time in less than a month following continued strong customer demand throughout December.

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Churchill China Sees 2021 Pretax Profit in Line With Market Expectations

Churchill China PLC said Friday that it expects to meet market expectations for pretax profit for 2021.

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Aston Martin Backs Medium-Term Guidance, 2021 Sales Rose

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC on Friday backed the company's medium-term earnings objectives, and said sales for 2021 grew as expected.

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Shell to Return $5.5 Bln From Permian Sale via Buybacks

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Friday that it will distribute the remaining $5.5 billion of proceeds from the sale of its Permian Basin assets in the U.S. through share buybacks.

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Essentra Sees 2021 Profits in Line With Views After Strong 4Q

Essentra PLC said Friday that it expects to report results for 2021 in line with analysts' forecasts.

 
Market Talk: 

Industrial Metals Prices May Decline in 2022 Amid Global Growth Concerns

0437 GMT - Industrial metals prices appear set to decline this year amid concerns over global economic growth due to the Omicron variant and continued weakness in China's property sector, Fitch Solutions says. "We forecast the 2022 annual average for all metals under our coverage to be below current levels," it says, adding that it believes base-metal prices have peaked in 2021. While manufacturing-linked metals like aluminum and tin may find some support from industrial demand, copper, often seen as a barometer of wider macroeconomic health, may underperform amid a poor macro outlook, Fitch Solutions says. ([e-mail])

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Sterling Could Fall to $1.32 as Short-Covering Rally Loses Steam

1603 GMT - Sterling's recent rally, driven by U.K. interest rate rise expectations encouraging short sellers to close earlier bets against the currency, appears to have run out of gas, Societe Generale says. GBP/USD could fall to 1.32 in the "next week or two," SocGen forex strategist Kit Juckes says. "The approach of the [Bank of England's] Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Feb. 3 can provide some support in due course, but a 25 basis points [rate] hike is priced in by March and a move next month isn't a foregone conclusion after the December hike." GBP/USD falls 0.2% to 1.3529. ([e-mail])

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones Newswires; [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-07-22 0306ET