What you need to know before the open
Markets remained resilient yesterday, in the face of sanctions being meted out by the EU on Russian and Ukrainian individuals.
Today, expectations are that they’ll hold their nerve again, opening slightly higher, ahead of President Putin’s decision to the Russian parliament on whether to annex Crimea to Russia.
Asian markets rallied in Tuesday trading – calmer, despite the Ukrainian crisis.
Meanwhile, Germany’s ZEW survey is expected to show a fall in sentiment. Hardly surprising, given the losses the DAX has seen over the last few weeks.
Corporate news
Sainsbury’s like-for-like sales were dampened at the end of 2013, sliding 3.8 per cent in the final three months – its first slide in nine years. The supermarket’s currently preparing for the exit of chief Justin King.
Online fashion store Asos has said it’s confident of achieving £1bn of sales in the full year 2013/14.
Antofagasta, the Chilean-based miner, saw its 2013 profit hit by a plunging copper price and higher energy costs. It is, however, returning surplus cash to shareholders with a final dividend of 86.1 cents per share.
Data in focus
- 10.00am: Germany March ZEW survey
- 12.30pm: US Feb inflation
- 12.30pm: US Feb housing starts
- 1.00pm: US Jan TIC flows
- 5.45pm: BoE Carney speech