LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: Stocks seen red as China drags sentiment

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Friday, following data from China, ...

Alliance News 18 October, 2024 | 5:59AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Friday, following data from China, which showed the slowest growth in 18 months for the Asian economy.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open down 21.2 points, or 0.3%, at 8,371.00 on Friday. The index of London large-caps closed up 56.06 points, or 0.7%, at 8,385.13 on Thursday.

Sterling was quoted at USD1.3029 early Friday, higher than USD1.3014 at the London equities close on Thursday.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves may seek to make around GBP3 billion of cuts to welfare over the next four years by restricting access to sickness benefits, PA reports.

Reeves is expected to commit to the previous Tory government's plans to save the sum by reforming work capability rules, according to the Telegraph.

Under Conservative proposals, welfare eligibility would have been tightened so that around 400,000 more people who are signed off long-term would be assessed as needing to prepare for employment by 2028/29, reducing the benefits bill by an estimated GBP3 billion.

The euro traded at USD1.0841 early Friday, higher than USD1.0838 late Thursday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY149.97 versus JPY149.94.

In the US on Thursday Wall Street ended a mixed bag, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.4%, the S&P 500 down slightly and the Nasdaq Composite up slightly.

In Asia on Friday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was up 0.6%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was up 2.3%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 2.5%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed down 0.8%.

China posted its slowest growth in a year and a half on Friday as authorities come under pressure to follow up a recent slew of stimulus with more action to reignite the world's number two economy.

Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics said the economy expanded 4.6% year-on-year in the third quarter, down from 4.7% in the previous three months and the slowest since early 2023, when China was emerging from its strict zero-Covid policy. However, it was slightly better than the 4.5% predicted by analysts surveyed by AFP.

Still, NBS figures showing a forecast-beating rise in September retail sales – a gauge of consumer activity – provided a ray of light after a string of below-par readings on a range of indicators including inflation, investment and trade.

And ahead of the data, state media said the country's top banks had cut interest rates on yuan deposits for the second time this year as part of a move to boost lending.

Meanwhile, Japanese inflation slowed in September with prices up 2.4% on-year, not including volatile fresh food, official data showed Friday according to AFP.

The core Consumer Price Index eased from 2.8% in August as the pace of increase in electricity and gas prices relented, the internal affairs ministry said. Despite the slowdown, the rate remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target, set over a decade ago as part of efforts to boost the stagnant economy.

The target has been surpassed every month since April 2022, although the bank has questioned to what extent that is down to temporary factors such as the Ukraine war.

Gold was quoted at USD2,709.81 an ounce early Friday, higher than USD2,693.53 on Thursday.

Brent oil was trading at USD74.31 a barrel early Friday, higher than USD74.25 late Thursday.

In Friday's corporate calendar, there is a trading statement from Evoke, and third quarter results from InterContinental Hotels Group.

In the economic calendar on Friday, there is retail sales from the UK, current account and construction output data from the eurozone, and building permits from the US.

By Holly Beveridge, Alliance News senior reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

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