LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: Stocks called up following New York's rally

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, after Federal Reserve ...

Alliance News 11 July, 2024 | 5:50AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told US lawmakers that rate cuts could be on the agenda before inflation cools to the central bank's 2% target.

Investors are also looking ahead to some key US inflation data, which is due out later on Thursday.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open up 25.5 points, 0.3%, at 8,219.01 on Thursday. The index of London large-caps closed up 53.70 points, 0.7%, at 8,193.51 on Wednesday.

In the US on Wednesday, Wall Street rallied with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.1%, the S&P 500 up 1.0% and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.2%. The S&P 500 rose above 5,600 for the first time extending its winning run to seven, while the Nasdaq Composite also hit another fresh high.

Jerome Powell said the central bank will not want to wait for inflation to cool to its 2% target before considering a rate cut. He was speaking on the second day of a testimony to lawmakers in Washington.

"We've said that you don't want to wait until inflation gets all the way down to two percent, because inflation has a certain momentum," Powell told the US House Financial Services Committee.

"If you waited that long, you've probably waited too long," he added. In such a scenario, inflation would go well below the target level – which is also an undesirable outcome."

On Thursday, there is US inflation data, which will either add to or deplete the Fed's confidence.

Thursday's data is expected to show the US annual inflation rate cooled to 3.1% in June, from 3.3% in May.

A hotter-than-expected reading could support the argument for higher interest rates for longer, while an in-line or cooler one could solidify expectations for a rate cut in September.

Sterling was quoted at USD1.2858 early Thursday, higher than USD1.2846 at the London equities close on Wednesday. The euro traded at USD1.0836 early Thursday, higher than USD1.0827 late Wednesday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY161.64, down versus JPY161.74.

In Asia on Thursday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was up 1.2%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.8%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 1.7%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 1.0%.

Gold was quoted at USD2,382.10 an ounce early Thursday, higher than USD2,379.50 on Wednesday. Brent oil was trading at USD85.73 a barrel early Thursday, higher than USD85.40 late Wednesday.

In Thursday's UK corporate calendar, there are full year results from Hays and Jet2. There are also some trading statements from MJ Gleeson, Severn Trent and Trustpilot.

As well as CPI data from the US, the economic calendar for Thursday has the weekly US initial jobless claims data at 1330 BST.

Before that, at 0700, there is a slew of UK economic data, including a gross domestic product reading and trade balance data.

At the same time, a CPI reading from Germany will be released.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News senior reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

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