Market overview: Goldman expect US nonfarms below the consensus

1430: Goldman Sachs is taking a bearish view on the major US jobs report due out on Friday. "We expect nonfarm payroll job growth of 220k in March, below the consensus forecast of 245k," it said in a note to clients.

1415: Sad news in the City, as broker Canaccord's inspirational boss Paul Reynolds has passed away after competing in a triathlon in Hawaii. The company's chairman has stepped up to the CEO role in the interim.

1400: Among small caps, Koovs is a big loser as India's version of Asos warns it will have to raise funds as costs climb; also falling is Stanley Gibbons as it warns annual results will be below expectations ahead of website launch. Those going the right way are Arcontech, by nearly 60%, after a nice contract win; while an offshore Falkland oil find perks up Rockhopper, Falkland Oil and Premier Oil; new entrant Motif Bio makes a strong debut with shares up 57%;

1330: US indices are expected to open lower as markets fear bad news from Friday's non-farm payrolls report.

1230: Some broker snaps: UBS downgrades Persimmon, but sees potential for accelerated capital return; Canaccord cites weak margins at Wetherspoons, cuts target price; Shore Cap maintains its hold on Marks & Spencer but hails the unexpected return to clothing form with a "Halleluljah!".

1030: Company news includes Playtech buying another business from its founder, widening its interests from online gambling into the financial trading arena.

0950: Mining stocks are under the weather this morning as iron ore prices drop below the $50-a-tonne mark, flirting with 10-year lows. Anglo American, Glencore and BHP Billiton are all losing at least 1%.

0900: The FTSE 100 has erased earlier gains to trade broadly flat at around 6,802. Thursday night will see the leaders of the seven top political parties in the UK battle it out in a live, televised debate in the run-up to the general election in May. "As the election looms, and that seven-way mega-debate this evening, the FTSE’s natural predilection for the next month may be stagnation, as investors try and wait out the increasingly uncertain election run-in," said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell.

0830: M&S is leading retail stocks higher early on after an unexpected return to growth in clothing sales in its fourth quarter, while Dunelm and Booker also impressed with trading updates. However, gains for the wider market are only modest as investors watch Greece and act cautiously ahead of the long weekend.