London pre-open: Stocks to rise on positive US and Asian cues

London stocks looked set to gain at the open on Tuesday following positive US and Asian sessions, amid signs of improving trade relations between the US and China.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 15 points higher at 6,825.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "The decision by Chinese President Xi to send his top trade negotiator Liu He to the first day of medium level talks appears to have been interpreted as a statement of intent by the markets that China is serious about coming to a speedy arrangement.

"The bigger question remains around whether US officials share that intent now that US equity markets appear to have rediscovered some of their lost mojo."

Chinese and US officials are due to kick off a second day of talks in Beijing later.

On the data front, Halifax house prices are at 0830 GMT.

In corporate news, Morrisons reported stronger than expected retail sales over the festive period, supported by prices that were kept level with last year.

As the first of the big four supermarkets to deliver its post-Christmas update, the Bradford-based group revealed group like-for-like sales of 3.6% in the nine weeks to 6 January. This comprised retail sales growth of 0.6%, with wholesale sales growing 3.0%.

Pub operator Greene King posted a jump in like-for-like sales as it hailed "strong" trading over the Christmas period and expressed confidence over the full year.

The group said in an update that pub company like-for-like sales were up 3.2% after 36 weeks of its financial year following strong trading over Christmas, as it continues to trade ahead of the market.

In the last two weeks of 2018, which cover Christmas and the New Year, LFL sales rose 10.9% and Greene King achieved record Christmas day sales of £7.7m.

National Grid has reached a deal with two Massachusetts Gas unions over employment terms and conditions, ending a six-month lockout.

The agreement is for a five-and-a-half-year contract for 1,250 employees in the company's Massachusetts Gas business. Workers are expected to return to work later this month.