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FTSE / DOW YTD

FTSE set to open lower

StockMarketWire.com

It looks like a case of back to reality for the FTSE 100, with financial websites tipping a lower open in London as US markets declined sharply overnight following the latest FOMC statement, while Asian bourses were also lower this morning.

But don't let that put you off.

GDP 4th Quarters out at 9.30.

FTSE indices cautiously higher after Fed holds rates

StockMarketWire.com

London equities began cautiously higher with rising miners and oilies only just outstripping falls among utilities, financials and pharmas. Europe was mild to modestly firmer, following drops on Wall St and Asia after the Fed Reserve held its benchmark interest rate overnight.

Soon after the open, FTSE 100 was up 8.63 points, or 0.14%, to 5999.0, while FTSE 250 was up 34.71, or 0.21%, to 16,315.7. At 8.43am, crude was astride USD32/bbl. Gold was at USD1117/oz and copper was at USD206/lb.

Anglo American (AAL) rose 5.54% to 267.8p as it reported improved production in the December quarter. Fellow miner Glencore (GLEN) rose 2.38% to 94.22p, as Antofagasta (ANTO) added 2.33% to 384.15p. Oil major Shell (RDSA), up 1.85% to 1490p, was traced by BP (BP.) and BG (BG.).

SSE (SSE), up 0.87% to 1444.5p, is on track for adjusted EPS for 2015/16 of 115p a share. Banks rose after Standard Chartered (STAN), up 2.32% to 482.3p, while insurers were led by Old Mutual (OML), up 1.69% to 162.4p. Consumer goods and commercial property were also firmer.

Ashtead led the roughly 49 blue-chip fallers, off 6.68% to 900.5p. Centrica (CNA) followed and was off 2.76% to 204.3p. Pharmas fell after Shire (SHP), lower 1.83% to 3976p, while Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) dropped 1.15% to 237.25p. House builders, retail and leisure ebbed, too.

Diageo (DGE), down 0.37% to 1860p, maintained its momentum continues with stronger top line growth and higher free cash flow in the six months to the end of December.

BIGGER MOVERS

EU Supply (EUSP), down 29.41% to 4.5p, expects to report total FY revenues of about GBP2.8m, from GBP2.5m. This represents anticipated growth of about 13% year-on-year, or roughly 24% at constant currencies.

FastForward Innovations (FFWSD), up 16.67% to 14p, has appointed non-executive director Lorne Abony -- the company's single largest investor -- as CEO. Tri-Star (TSTR), up 15.38% to 0.08p, said its key Goynuk exploration licence in the Murat Dagi mountains, western Turkey, has been renewed for a further ten years to run to June 2025.

Noricum Gold (NMG), down 11.11% to 0.08p, has raised GBP1m via a placing of 1.25bn new shares at a price of 0.08p each. Funds will allow it to develop early stage production opportunities, possibly in Q3, from two starter pits in the Bolnisi Copper-Gold Project, Republic of Georgia.

LONDON HIGHLIGHTS

Stellar Diamonds (STEL), up 10.53% to 10.5p, said good progress continues to be made towards the approval of the mining licence for its 1.45m carat Tongo Dyke-1 project in Sierra Leone.

Independent Oil and Gas (IOG), up 7.69% to 5.25p, said its Skipper licence has been formally extended until Dec. 31 after talks with the UK Oil & Gas Authority. IOG intends to drill the appraisal well as soon as economic conditions allow.

Strat Aero (AERO), up 5% to 5.25p, has entered into the rapidly growing Chinese and Asian unmanned aerial vehicle markets through the signing of two agreements.

FirstGroup (FGP), down 4.76% to 97.43p, said Q3 revenues fell 9.5% on a constant currency basis, mostly reflecting changes to the rail franchise portfolio, and the number of First Student operating days due to the timing of school calendar.

PayPoint (PAY), down 4.07% to 796.25p, continued to make progress across the businesses in Q3. Retail services grew strongly, and the outfit's new terminal is in pilot in the UK. The company has made progressed development of its core epos software.

Synectics (SNX), up 3.91% to 132.75p, said one of the world's top-ten international passenger airlines has chosen Synectics' Synergy 3 command and control platform to protect its maintenance infrastructure.

Scisys (SSY), up 3.65% to 71p, said directors are encouraged by the performance of the group during H2 2015 and believe the underlying results will comfortably meet current market guidance.

Fuller, Smith & Turner (FSTA), up 0.22% to 1117.5p, saw a strong performance in its managed pubs and hotels in the 43 weeks to 23 January. Mitchells and Butlers (MAB), up 2.7% to 291.05p, enjoyed like-for-like sales growth of 2.0% in the two weeks of Christmas and New Year.

Other stocks in the news included Jimmy Choo (CHOO), Renishaw (RSW), Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), The Quarto Group (QRT), Lighthouse (LGT), Redefine International (RDI), Dalata Hotel Group (DAL), NetPlay TV (NPT), Kibo Mining (KIBO), Cpl Resources (CPS), Cranswick (CWK), Sanne (SNN), Skyepharma (SKP) and Matchtech (MTEC).

Miners and Oilers up, Banks down but fts flat.. something cooking?