Market overview: JP Morgan prefers StanChart to HSBC

1216: Analysts at JP Morgan have reiterated their preference for StanChart shares over those of HSBC. Positive news-flow relating to a key exposure in India reinforced the broker´s view that asset quality pressures peaked in 2015. Lloyds continued to be its top-pick among UK banks, it said.

1130: Speaking at a central banking conference in Paris, on Monday, the president of the Federal Reserve bank of Richmond, Jeffrey Lacker, reportedly said that upside risks to price stability had increased, perhaps "not significantly" but "I think noticeably and I think materially".

0954: Stocks have moved into the green, led by the likes of StanChart and Sainsbury on the first day of a holiday-shortened week. Miners are under the cosh early on despite a sharp near-6% gain overnight in iron ore futures in China. Chinese shares also ended on the up in Shanghai after authorities moved last Friday to loosen rules on margin trading. The resignation of the Conservative Party´s pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, may be weighing on cable, which at last count was down by 0.45% to 1.4410. Speeches from two Fed Speakers later in the day may be the main reference for investors. Not to lose sight of, the S&P 500 ended last Friday just below important technical resistance at 2,050 points. FTSE 100 up 5.28 points to 6,195.42.