16th Oct 2024 06:59
(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Wednesday, as investor sentiment remains cautious ahead of the next interest rate call from the European Central Bank later in the week.
IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open down 15.3 points, or 0.2%, lower at 8,241.20 on Wednesday. The index of London large-caps closed down 43.38 points, or 0.5%, at 8,249.28 on Tuesday.
Sterling was quoted at USD1.3072 early Wednesday, lower than USD1.3094 at the London equities close on Tuesday.
The euro traded at USD1.0890 early Wednesday, lower than USD1.0950 late Tuesday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY149.23, down versus JPY149.29.
In the US on Tuesday Wall Street ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both down 0.8% and the Nasdaq Composite down 1.0%.
Kamala Harris went after her US presidential election rival Donald Trump's mental state and fitness for office Tuesday after the 78-year-old Republican's televised town hall veered into a surreal, impromptu music session.
Three weeks ahead of the US election, Harris's campaign has begun to focus aggressively on Trump's health and mental stability, and was quick to weigh in, saying the ex-president appeared "lost, confused, and frozen on stage."
At Monday's event in Oaks near Philadelphia, a pause for two medical emergencies in the crowd turned into a bizarre 39 minutes of music and dancing as Trump abandoned the discussion of the election to put on his favorite hits, swaying awkwardly on stage.
"Who the hell wants to hear questions, right?" he said, bringing the Q&A section to an abrupt end and telling his people to crank up the volume. He then stayed on stage for nine songs, ranging from opera to Guns N' Roses and Elvis, with the ex-president alternating his dance moves with standing in place and staring into the crowd.
"Hope he's okay," Harris opined dryly on X.
In Asia on Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was down 1.8%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was up slightly, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 0.4%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed down 0.4%.
Gold was quoted at USD2,667.54 an ounce early Wednesday, higher than USD2,663.59 on Tuesday.
Brent oil was trading at USD74.29 a barrel early Wednesday, higher than USD73.90 late Tuesday.
On Wednesday's corporate calendar, there are trading statements from Antofagasta, Brooks Macdonald, Mony Group, Ninety One, Oxford Instruments, Quilter, and Rio Tinto. There are also half-year results from Sanderson Design, Vertu Motors, Whitbread, and XPS Pensions.
In the economic calendar, there is CPI and PPI from the UK, followed by a speech from eurozone European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, and export and import prices from the US.
By Holly Beveridge, Alliance News senior reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.