London pre-open: Stocks seen up after positive US session
London stocks were set to rise at the open on Monday following a positive finish on Wall Street at the end of last week.
The FTSE 100 was called to open 19 points higher at 7,535.
CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "As we look ahead to the upcoming week, inflation expectations for the US economy are likely to encounter a new challenge with the release of US CPI for January on Thursday, which is expected to rise.
"Friday’s payrolls report had the effect of pushing yields higher while keeping inflation expectations in check. This week’s US CPI report may well not have the same effect, which means last week’s volatility is unlikely to be a one-off.
"Today’s European open looks set to be a positive one, after Friday’s positive finish for US markets."
In corporate news, Taylor Wimpey said it had appointed Jennie Daly as chief executive, replacing Pete Redfern.
Daly will take over after the house builder’s annual general meeting on April 26. She is currently the company’s group operations director and a board member, overseeing Taylor Wimpey's land, planning, design, technical, sustainability, production and supply chain functions, as well as managing the logistics business.
Real estate investment trust Great Portland Estates said it had achieved record leasing since the start of the financial year.
Great Portland said it signed 460,900 square feet of new lettings since the start of the financial year on 1 April 2021, generating a combined annual rent of £32.5m, with market lettings 9.8% ahead of March 2021's estimated rental value, surpassing its previous record leasing high of £31.8m in 2016 with two months of the financial year still remaining.