LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: Stocks called down; US political uncertainty

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Monday, after a weekend of political ...

Alliance News 15 July, 2024 | 5:51AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Monday, after a weekend of political uncertainty in the US, which saw an assassination attempt of Donald Trump and Joe Biden reassure supporters that he will stand for re-election.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open down 17.91 points, 0.2%, at 8,235.00on Monday. The index of London large-caps closed up 29.57 points, 0.4%, at 8,252.91 on Friday.

In the US on Friday, Wall Street ended higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite all closing up 0.6%.

Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally Saturday, in a chaotic and shocking incident set to supercharge political tensions ahead of the polarising US presidential election.

The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured.

President Joe Biden warned on Sunday of the risks of political violence in the US after Saturday's events, saying: "It's time to cool it down."

In a prime-time national address from the Oval Office, Biden said political passions can run high but "we must never descend into violence".

Biden also rejected speculation he would quit the US presidential race.

"There's been a lot of speculation lately. What's Joe Biden going to do, is he going to stay in the race, is he going to drop out?" Biden told supporters in the city of Detroit, to chants of "Don't you quit!"

"Here's my answer: I am running and we're going to win! I'm not going to change that," Biden said.

In China, the Shanghai Composite was down marginally, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was down 1.3%.

China's economy grew 4.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, official data showed Monday, less than analysts had expected.

"By quarter, the GDP for the first quarter increased by 5.3% year on year and for the second quarter 4.7%," Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.

The figures were much lower than the 5.1% predicted by analysts polled by Bloomberg.

The world's second-largest economy is grappling with a real estate debt crisis, weakening consumption, an ageing population and trade tensions with Western rivals.

Top officials are meeting in Beijing on Monday for a key plenum, with all eyes on how they might kickstart lacklustre growth.

The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.6%. In Japan, financial markets are closed, as the country celebrates Japan Marine Day.

Sterling was quoted at USD1.2976 early Monday, lower than USD1.2989 at the London equities close on Friday. The euro traded at USD1.0894 early Monday, lower than USD1.0907 late Friday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY157.92, up slightly versus JPY157.90.

Gold was quoted at USD2,411.80 an ounce early Monday, higher than USD2,410.50 on Friday. Brent oil was trading at USD85.09 a barrel early Monday, lower than USD85.66 late Friday.

In Monday's corporate calendar, there are full year results from Gore Street Energy Storage Fund, as well as a trading statement from Robert Walters.

In the economic calendar on Monday there are retail sales from Germany at 0700 BST and eurozone industrial production at 1000 BST.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News senior reporter

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