Tuesday 25 March 2014 3:47 am

What you need to know before the open

European bourses are expected to see a positive start this morning, although trading’s still choppy as geopolitical tensions continue.

Speculation on further stimulus from China has been growing, which seems to have boosted sentiment. On the other hand, this could be misplaced – the government’s determined to trim recklessness in the banking system, so added stimuli might not be its next port of call.

The Chinese slowdown, Ukrainian situation and uncertainty around Turkey, along with the US carrying on with its stimulus programme, continue to make it difficult to predict where markets will go.

Corporate data

The Royal Mail’s said it’s axing 1,600 jobs as part of its continued efficiency programme. The programme's expected to save the FTSE 100 firm around £50m a year.

Meanwhile, Siemens says it’s going to create 1,000 new jobs in Hull, investing £310m in the UK’s first purpose-built factory for manufacturing offshore wind turbine blades.

RSA, the scandal-hit insurer, has priced the rights issue it’s undertaking at £773m. Expectations were £775m. It’ll be underwritten by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan Cazenove.

Centrica, along with two private equity groups, has agreed a deal to buy Irish energy firm Bord Gais Energy for £1.1bn.

Kingfisher is making a start on a £200m capital return to shareholders. Adjusted pre-tax profit in the year ending in February increased 4.1 per cent to £744m.

Wolseley, the biggest supplier of plumbing and heating goods in the world, has reported half-year profits in line with expectations, although it says it continues to face significant headwinds in Continental Europe.

And EasyJet’s said it expects a much-diminished loss in the six months to 31 March. It’s revised its outlook to a loss of £55m to £65m from £70m to £90m.

Data in focus