Proactive Investors - Good morning, and it is expected to be a positive start for blue chips in London ahead of interest rate decision by the European Central Bank.
Spread betting companies are calling London’s lead index up by around 17 points after closing down 1.54 points at 7,536.27 on Wednesday.
Housebuilders will once more be in the spotlight as house prices declined at their fastest rate since 2009 in August, according to surveyors.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said a net balance of 68% of property professionals reported house prices falling rather than rising, marking the most negative reading since 2009.
In addition, controversial moves to relax environmental rules to boost housebuilding have been scuppered by the House of Lords which voted by 192 to 161, against scrapping EU-era rules that force developers to mitigate the impact new homes have on river health.
Otherwise, the main early focus will be updates from Renishaw (LON:RSW), Trainline, Spire Healthcare, IG and THG (LON:THG).