By Samuel Indyk
Investing.com – At BST, FTSE 100 futures are trading higher by 0.1% at 7,037.
In FX markets, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3796, EUR/GBP is trading at 0.8533. The US Dollar Index is down 0.1%.
Today’s calendar highlights include Eurozone CPI, University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment.
Data
Retail Sales unexpectedly fell by 0.9% in August, although remained above pre-pandemic levels. The ONS said other days suggest that drop in food store sales is linked to increase in eating out as restrictions eased. Fuel sales showed an increase but remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Stocks
Virgin Wines (LON:VINO)/Moonpig (LON:MOONM)- Virgin Wines enters partnership with Mooonpig to launch a range of products exclusively on the Moonpig platform.
Foxtons (LON:FOXT) - Has appointed Nigel Rich CBE as Chairman with effect from 1st October 2021.
S4 Capital (LON:SFOR) - Announces merger between its Media.Monks unitary brand and Zemoga, to build a third practice area around technology services.
BT (LON:BT) - To create an additional 1,000 jobs at its site in Birmingham, UK. (Times)
Pennon (LON:PNN) - Competition and Markets Authority invites commentary on the deal with Bristol Water.
Draper Esprit (LON:GROW) - Invested a total of £130 million during the year to date including 8 new, and 6 follow-on, investments. Additional investments of £25 million and £15 million in existing portfolio companies Form3 and CoachHub, respectively.
JTC (LON:JTC) - Issued 109,741 new shares in order to satisfy share consideration due under the Segue acquisition.
Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) - Provides exchange rate information for interim and special dividends. UK shareholders to be paid interim dividend of 270.84 pence per ordinary share and special dividend of 133.26 pence per ordinary share.
Primary Health Properties (LON:PHP) - Launches Community Impact Fund as part of wider ESG initiatives.
Anglo American (LON:AAL) - Downgraded to equal weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)
Glencore (LON:GLEN) - Upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley
EVRAZ (LON:EVRE) - Upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley
HSBC (LON:HSBA) - Upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC and upgraded to overweight from underweight at Barclays (LON:BARC).
Standard Chartered (LON:STAN) - Upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
Sectors
Travel & Leisure - The UK is set to announce changes to its international travel policy today with expectations that the traffic light system will be scrapped for a simpler two-tier system. PCR tests upon returning may also be scrapped and the number of countries on the Red list is expected to fall.