LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: Stocks called up ahead of FOMC minutes

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open slightly higher on Wednesday, with all eyes on ...

Alliance News 21 August, 2024 | 5:51AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open slightly higher on Wednesday, with all eyes on the trajectory of US interest rates, with the release of the minutes from the US Federal Reserve's latest meeting.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open up 4.3 points, 0.1%, at 8,277.62 on Wednesday. The index of London large-caps closed down 83.62 points, 1.0%, at 8,273.32 on Tuesday.

In the US on Tuesday, Wall Street ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both down 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.3%.

The US Democrats officially confirmed Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate for the November 5 election during the party's national convention in Chicago on Tuesday evening.

The delegations from all the states and US territories once again cast their votes for Harris in a purely ceremonial vote, accompanied by music, lighting effects, short speeches and much cheering in the event hall.

Harris had already been officially selected by more than 4,500 party delegates to be the Democrats' presidential nominee in an online roll call earlier this month.

Harris is set to give a major speech at the convention on Thursday night, marking the grand finale of the four-day event intended to celebrate the Democratic candidates and to boost their momentum for the remainder of the campaign.

Across catching attention across the Atlantic, investors are keen to scrutinise the Fed's minutes, which are scheduled for release on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Jackson Hole central bank economic symposium in Wyoming will get underway on Thursday, bringing together central bankers and finance ministers, and academics and financial market players from around the world.

Sterling was quoted at USD1.3024 early Wednesday, higher than USD1.3020 at the London equities close on Tuesday. The euro traded at USD1.1118 early Wednesday, higher than USD1.1105 late Tuesday.

Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY145.60, down versus JPY145.67.

In Asia on Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was down 0.3%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.3%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was down 1.0%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.1%.

Gold was quoted at USD2,517.20 an ounce early Wednesday, higher than USD2,512.24 on Tuesday.

Brent oil was trading at USD77.06 a barrel early Wednesday, lower than USD77.41 late Tuesday.

The corporate calendar in London on Wednesday sees half-year results from Costain and Mobico.

Wednesday's global economic calendar sees UK borrowing data at 0700 BST, and minutes from the July Federal Open Market Committee meeting at 1900 BST.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter

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