LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: London called up ahead of US PPI data

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Friday morning, ahead of producer ...

Alliance News 12 July, 2024 | 5:50AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Friday morning, ahead of producer price data from the US.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open up 12.9 points, 0.2%, at 8,236.24 on Friday. The index of London large-caps closed up 29.83 points, 0.4%, at 8,223.34 on Thursday.

In the US on Thursday, Wall Street ended mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.1%, the S&P 500 down 0.9% and the Nasdaq Composite down 2.0%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the year-on-year consumer price inflation rate increased 3.0% in June, cooling from a 3.3% rise in May. According to FXStreet, markets were expecting a 3.1% increase for June.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined 0.1% in June, after being unchanged in May from April. Prices had been expected to register a 0.1% increase this time around, so the latest reading undershot the consensus.

The US is making "significant progress fighting inflation," President Joe Biden said Thursday, after consumer inflation figures for June came in cooler than anticipated.

"Prices are falling for cars, appliances, and airfares, and grocery prices have fallen since the beginning of the year," Biden added, though conceding that overall costs are "still too high" as he battles to win reelection this year.

On politics, Biden insisted Thursday that he will run for another term as US president and beat Donald Trump, as a string of verbal gaffes at a major summit threw a harsh new spotlight on his fitness.

In a high stakes press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Washington, the 81-year-old acknowledged the need to "allay fears" among Democrats but said he was determined not to step aside.

His bid to portray himself as in command was undermined by introducing Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as his Russian foe Vladimir Putin earlier in the day, and then referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump" at the news conference.

Sterling was quoted at USD1.2912 early Friday, lower than USD1.2920 at the London equities close on Thursday.

The euro traded at USD1.0870 early Friday, virtually unchanged against USD1.0872 late Thursday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY159.00, higher versus JPY158.57.

In Asia on Friday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was down 2.4%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down marginally, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 2.2%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.9%.

Gold was quoted at USD2,406.30 an ounce early Friday, lower than USD2,422.61 on Thursday.

Brent oil was trading at USD85.56 a barrel early Friday, higher than USD85.47 late Thursday.

Friday's economic calendar has US producer price data at 1330 BST.

The local corporate calendar has a trading statement from emerging markets investment manager Ashmore Group.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News senior reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

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