LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening up 2-12 points on Thursday according to financial bookmakers, with
strong gains overnight on Wall Street and in Asia countered by swine flu worries
and the prospect for a flood of earnings news.
The UK blue chip index is seen opening as much as 0.3 percent higher after
closing up 2.3 percent on Wednesday at 4,189.5, its highest closing level since
Feb. 13.
U.S. stocks climbed on Wednesday after grim first quarter U.S. GDP data
offered hints of future expansion, a prospect reinforced by the Federal
Reserve's hopeful comments made after London's close.
At the conclusion of its monetary policy committee meeting, the Fed kept its
interest rates unchanged at rockbottom but said the economic outlook had
improved modestly since its last meeting in March. [ID:nN29429278]
The Bank of Japan also kept interest rates on hold after its latest meeting
on Thursday and held off on any new recession-easing initiatives.
Japan's industrial output was up 1.6 percent month-on-month in March, the
first increase in six months and another sign that the global slump may be
easing. [ID:nSP325412]
British consumer confidence recovered to its highest level in a year in
April as gloom over the economic outlook dissipated to levels not seen since the
start of the credit crunch, a survey showed on Thursday.
The GfK/NOP consumer confidence barometer rose three points to -27 this
month, its highest level since April 2008 and its third consecutive monthly
rise. [ID:nLT882234]
The sub-index measuring the economic outlook jumped 16 points to -15, its
highest level since the credit squeeze first sent markets into a tailspin in
August 2007.
Investors will also eye the latest Nationwide UK house price survey, due out
at 0600GMT, as well as U.S. Chicago PMI and core PCE data later on.
Meanwhile swine flu uncertainties remain a depressant. The World Health
Organization said on Wednesday the world is on the brink of a pandemic, raising
its threat level to phase 5 as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first
person outside of Mexico, a toddler in the U.S. state of Texas. [ID:nN29472619]
* Wall Street jumps after data, Fed hint recession easing [ID:nLU422410]
* Nikkei climbs 3.3 pct on economy hopes, Honda jumps [ID:nT284825]
* World stocks hit 4-mth peak, Asia powers gains [ID:nHKG344678]
* FOREX-Yen falls as confidence improves on US outlook [ID:nT160090]
* TREASURIES-Bonds fall as Fed gives hopeful outlook [ID:nLU428948]
* Oil extends gains above $51 on mogas draw, econ data [ID:nLU395937]
* Gold hovers below $900 on stock market gains [ID:nT339729]
* Copper extends session gains after Fed comments [ID:nLT150317]
UK stocks to watch on Wednesday are:
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP (LLOY.L)
The bank said it will cut 305 jobs as it merges its Scottish Widows and
Clerical Medical units, according to UK media reports.
3I GROUP (III.L)
Three of the private equity firm's top investors have criticised the group's
proposals to launch a rights issue of up to 700 million pounds, raising doubts
over whether it will proceed, the Financial Times said.
JOHNSTON PRESS (JPR.L)
Final round bids for Johnston Press's 11 Irish newspaper titles are due in
early May, but the loss-making titles which were expected to raise up to 90
million euros when put up for sale earlier this year are now expected to fetch
no more than 40 million euros, teh Financial Times said.
GAMING
Ministers are considering new regulations that would force overseas-based
gambling operators to pay millions of pounds in levies to support horseracing
and research into gambling addiction, the Financial Times said.
BG GROUP (BG.L)
The energy firm will post first-quarter results.
ASTAZENECA (AZN.L)
The drugs group will report first-quarter results (1000GMT).
SHIRE (SHP.L)
The drugs firm will post first-quarter results.
SMITH & NEPHEW (SN.L)
The medical products group will report first-quarter results.
ANGLO AMERICAN (AAL.L)
The miner will deliver an first quarter trading update.
ANTOFAGASTA (ANTO.L)
The Chilean copper miner will issue an first quarter output report.
KAZAKHMYS (KAZ.L)
The miner will issue an first quarter output report.
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING (BSY.L)
The satellite broadcaster will report third-quarter results.
CADBURY (CBRY.L)
The food producer will issue a trading update.
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (BATS.L)
The tobacco firm holds its annual general meeting.
ROLLS-ROYCE (RR.L)
The defence firm holds its annual general meeting.
HAMMERSON <HMSO.L
The real estate investment trust holds its annual general meeting.
SEGRO (SGRO.L)
The real estate investment trust holds its annual general meeting.
JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON (JLT.L)
The insurance broker will deliver a trading update.
ST.JAMES'S PLACE (SJP.L)
The insurer and wealth manager holds it annual general meeting.
INDEPENDENT NEWS & MEDIA (INME.L)
The Irish newspaper publisher will post full-year results.
WILLIAM HILL (WMH.L)
The bookmaker will deliver a trading update.
TAYLOR WIMPEY (TW.L)
The housebuilder will report full-year results.
LOOKERS (LOOK.L)
The car dealer will report full-year results.
RPS GROUP (RPS.L)
The firm will issue a trading update.
LOGICA (LOG.L)
The IT services firm will issue a trading update.
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]
> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]
(Reporting by Jon Hopkins)
