What you need to know before the open – 23/12
The FTSE 100 is expected to open higher on the last full day of trading before Christmas. Volumes will however be thinner than usual with many investors enjoying the festive season and limited news releases to trade on.
Last Friday saw the best week for European stocks in eight months. They're now expected to get a lift from a strong US trading session on Friday.
Despite dangers of civil war in South Sudan, a Chinese credit squeeze, and protests in Bangkok, most Asian markets rallied overnight.
European opening call suggestions – FTSE +25, DAX +51. CAC +17
— David Buik (@truemagic68) December 23, 2013
No significant data releases in Europe today, but we've got a host of personal income and expenditure numbers from the US in the afternoon. There's also the Chicago Fed National Activity Index to look forward to.
Key events:
- Italian consumer confidence for December at 9.00am. Expected at 98.8 from 98.3.
- US Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November at 1.30pm.
- US personal income growth for November at 1.30pm. Expected at 0.4 per cent from -0.1 per cent.
- US core personal consumption expenditure growth for November at 1.30pm. Expected flat at 0.1 per cent.
- US Reuters/Michigan consumer sentiment index for December at 2.55pm. Expected at 82.8 from 75.1.