Proactive Investors - FTSE expected to open lower tracking Asian and US markets.
The FTSE 100 is expected to open lower after falls In Asian markets amid mixed Chinese trade figures, while US markets reversed early gains to close in the red.
Spread betting companies are calling London’s lead index down by around 30 points after closing up 25.54 points, 0.3%, at 7,515.38 on Wednesday.
China reported stronger than expected export growth on Thursday, breaking six consecutive months of contraction, but imports unexpectedly shrank, indicating persistent softness in demand in the region’s largest economy.
"Asia markets on the other hand have struggled with the latest set of Chinese trade numbers pointing to an economy that is still struggling, and a downgrade by Moody's on China's credit outlook, along with downgrades to banks, and other small companies which looks set to weigh in the European open this morning, in the wake of weakness in Asia markets," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.
In the US, Wall Street ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.2%, the S&P 500 down 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.6%.
Back in London, and the early focus will be updates from Balfour Beatty (LON:BALF), DS Smith, Watches of Switzerland and Frasers.