London pre-open: Stocks seen touch lower ahead of retail sales, GDP

Stocks in London were expected to open a touch lower on Thursday ahead of some key data releases.

London’s FTSE 100 was seen opening nine points lower than Wednesday’s close at 6,194.

“European stock markets are expected to open a little lower following a relatively mixed session in Asia overnight, as investors await a raft of data from Europe and the US throughout the day while still having one eye on tomorrow’s US jobs report,” said Oanda’s Craig Erlam .

“It will be very interesting to see how investors respond to the economic data in the coming days as many of the central banks that have previously been very active, have given the impression that the coming months will be quite the opposite.”

On the data front, UK retail sales are due at 0900 BST while fourth quarter GDP is at 0930 BST. In the US, initial jobless claims are at 1330 BST.

Oanda said the UK GDP figures were expected to confirm the country’s economy grew by 1.9% year-on-year.

Tui has sold 47% of its summer holiday programme, in line with last year, and at 1% higher average selling prices, with holidaymakers channelled increasingly to Spain as Turkey's troubles prove off-putting.

Ahead of interim results in May, the Anglo-German travel group behind the Thomson and First Choice brands said it remained "well positioned" to deliver underlying EBITA growth of at least 10% in the year to September.

FTSE 100 private healthcare group Mediclinic International reported continued patient growth across all of its operating platforms in the 11 months to the end of February on Thursday, with an associated rise in revenues.

In the pre-close trading update, the company reported revenues of ZAR 12.26bn (£0.57bn) in South Africa, CHF 1.49bn (£1.08bn) in Switzerland and AED 1.4bn (£0.27bn) in the United Arab Emirates - which Mediclinic’s board claimed were all increases on the previous period.

The company also highlighted the completion of the combination of Mediclinic and Al Noor Hospitals on 15 February, and the acquisition of 19.9% of Spire Healthcare Group occurring during the period.

Mediclinic’s net debt at year end was expected to be below £1.65bn.