Headline shares are tipped to open thirty to thirty-five points higher today, according to financial websites, as EU bank stress test results are seen bolstering confidence in the UK banking sector. In the US Friday, the Dow gained 102 points at 10,425, the Nasdaq Composite added 24 points at 2,269 and the S&P500 rose 9 points at 1,103. In Asia today, the Nikkei was last up 87 points at 9,518, while the Hang Seng approached the midpoint ahead 47 points at 20,862. Crude oil traded at $79.11 a barrel on Nymex while gold settled at $1,193 an ounce.
LONDON MARKETS
The Financial Services Authority has confirmed that Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC all passed the European bank stress tests.
In the corporate diary for the day, interim results are due from Dialight, Pace, Pearson, Reckitt Benckiser Group and WSP Group. Trading statements are expected from Hansen Transmissions International and National Grid.
Elsewhere, AGMs are being hosted at Albion Enterprise VCT, CMA Global Hedge PCC, Connemara Mining, Cranswick, EPE Special Opportunities, Establishment Inv Trust, Evolve Capital, Hogg Robinson, HSBC Infrastructure Company Ltd., National Grid and Petrel Resources.
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