Proactive Investors - FTSE 100 expected to make a bright start on Wednesday as investors look ahead to CPI figures from the EU and a speech by Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell later today.
Spread betting companies are calling the lead index up by around 30 points.
Michael Hewson chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK said the main focus today “is set to be on today’s flash CPI from the EU, which could set the scene as to whether we get 50bps or 75bps when the ECB meets in just over two weeks’ time.“
US markets closed in mixed fashion with investors preferring to remain sidelined ahead of Powell’s speech. He is due to speak at a Brookings Institution event on Wednesday about the outlook for the US economy and the labour market
At the close the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 3 points higher at 33,850, the S&P 500 slipped 6 points, or 0.16%, to 3,958 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 66 points, or 0.59%, to 10,984.
In Asia, stocks were mixed. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index was down 0.2%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.4%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 0.3%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney was up 0.4%.
Back in London and there are half-year results from water utility Pennon, luxury fashion company Mulberry and consumer gift packaging and stationery firm IG Design Group in the corporate diary.