London pre-open: Footsie to edge higher despite China PMIs

The Footsie was seen gaining up to 34 points at the start of the session from Monday’s close of 6,356.09.

In parallel, the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Composite Index ended Tuesday’s session 0.32% higher at 3,456.31 despite the release of mixed factory data in China overnight.

Acting as a backdrop, all eyes continued to be on Thursday’s European Central Bank interest rate meeting and whether Draghi would choose to surprise markets so as to insure the euro weakened further.

Traders were also keeping a close eye on events in foreign exchange markets ahead of Friday’s US non-farm payrolls report, which might boost expectations for a first interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve on 16 December.

On Monday, cable dropped below the 1.50 mark for the first time since April.

Mixed readings on factory activity out of China

The official Chinese NBS manufacturing sector purchasing managers’ index slipped by 0.2 points in November to reach 49.6 (consensus: 49.9), its lowest reading since August 2012, while the non-official Caixin PMI edged higher by 0.3 points to 48.6 (consensus: 48.3).

The latest readings on activity at China’s factories came alongside a 0.5 point gain in the country’s non-manufacturing PMI to 53.6, its best reading since July.

At 09:30 survey compiler Markit was scheduled to release its manufacturing sector PMI for the UK.

Readings on Eurozone manufacturing and unemployment were also set for release later in the day, at 09:00 and 10:00, respectively.

“Euro area manufacturing is expected to have expanded modestly in November, but as is the case overall, this is not enough given the sharp economic contraction in recent years. The data therefore supports the need for more stimulus from the ECB, although this alone is unlikely to spark the kind of recovery the region desperately needs,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, in a research note sent to clients.

Croda goes on shopping spree

Croda International has announced it will acquire Netherlands based independent seed enhancement company Incotec Group. The FTSE 250 company announced the deal in a statement on Tuesday, which is valued at €155m (£109m) inclusive of debt. Incotec develops and supplies a wide range of proprietary and sustainable technologies for both vegetable seeds and field crops.

Property group St Modwen said profit before all tax for the full year was likely to be in line with market expectations. The company added that its net debt position at 30 November 2015 was expected to be slightly higher than current market expectations reflecting the timing of recent investment activities, including the acquisition of Kirkby Town Centre for £35.8m and the retention of major completed developments during the year.

Northgate posted a slight decline in pre-tax profit for the first half, although it lifted its dividend and reiterated its expectations for the year. For the half year to the end of October, underlying pre-tax profit slipped to £45.9m from £47.8m in the same period last year, on revenue of £313.1m from £305m.