Market News and Views
The FTSE 100 is called to open higher this morning helped by the Irish 85bn euro deal with the European Union although concerns remain over others in the euro zone such as Portugal and Spain. The Korean situation is another ongoing factor the markets will have to contend with. Overnight we had domestic data showing that house prices fell 0.8% on the month and were 1.1% lower on the year, the largest annual decline in nearly a year according to Hometrack. A separate survey from the CBI also reported a surprise fall in business volumes by consumer companies in the 3 months to November as Britons cut back on leisure and other discretionary spending. Later in the session we will have the Autumn Forecast Statement from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Today's Company announcements
BAE Systems Acquisition. It is paying AUD$24m to acquire stratsec.net Pty Ltd, an information security company. The deal is conditional amongst other things, on regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q4 2010.
BP Disposal. It has agreed to sell its interests in Pan American Energy, an Argentina-based oil and gas company to Bridas Corporation for $7.06bn in cash for BP's 60% interest. The deal is expected to be completed in 2011 and is part of BP's plan to make asset divestments of up to $30bn by the end of 2011.
BP Disposal. It has agreed to sell its interests in Pan American Energy, an Argentina-based oil and gas company to Bridas Corporation for $7.06bn in cash for BP's 60% interest. The deal is expected to be completed in 2011 and is part of BP's plan to make asset divestments of up to $30bn by the end of 2011.
Markets Summary | Previous | Change |
 | ||
FTSE 100 | 5668.70 | -30.23 |
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FTSE 250 | 10809.43 | -25.61 |
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Dax | 6848.98 | -30.68 |
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Dow Jones | 11092.00 | -95.28 |
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Nasdaq | 2534.56 | -8.56 |
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S&P | 1189.40 | -8.95 |
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Hang Seng | 23047.30 | 170.05 |
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Nikkei | 10125.99 | 86.43 |
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Commodities Summary | Previous | Change |
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Oil | 86.10 | 0.34 |
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Gold | 1362.64 | 5.56 |
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Silver | 26.78 | 0.13 |
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Currency Summary | Previous | Change |
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£/$ | 1.5620 | 0.0025 |
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€/$ | 1.3244 | -0.0037 |
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$/¥ | 84.05 | 0.0250 |
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£/€ | 1.1788 | 0.0014 |
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