LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: Stocks to rise ahead of BoE decision

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, with equity markets ...

Alliance News 2 November, 2023 | 6:55AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, with equity markets cheering the latest hold on interest rates from the US Federal Reserve, as attention turns to the Bank of England.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open up 32.0 points, 0.4%, at 7,374.43 on Thursday. The index of London large-caps closed up 20.71 points, 0.3%, at 7,342.43 on Wednesday.

The Bank of England will announce its interest rate call at midday when it is expected to enact a second-successive pause and reiterate its "data dependent" outlook.

The UK central bank decided against a hike in its September meeting, maintaining bank rate at 5.25%, which is a more than 15-year high.

"There ought to be enough evidence today for a majority decision to hold rates, with perhaps one or two of the 4 hawks who voted for a hike in September deciding to uphold the status quo, while downgrading their GDP forecasts," said CMC Markets' Michael Hewson.

The dollar retreated following the interest rate announcement from the Federal Reserve, with the central bank leaving rates unchanged.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the bank remains "strongly committed" and "squarely focused" on getting inflation back to its 2% target, leaving the door ajar for a further interest rate increase.

He cautioned against reading too much into the idea that they are on an extended pause, saying no decision on what they will do at the December meeting has been made. Powell said the Fed had come "very far" in this rate-hiking cycle and would take meetings "one-by-one" and look at the data.

However, according to SPI Asset Mangement's Stephen Innes: "The street thinks the Fed is done".

Sterling was quoted at USD1.2179 early Thursday, higher than USD1.2123 at the London equities close on Wednesday. The euro traded at USD1.0596, higher than USD1.0537. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY1.5037, down versus JPY151.07.

In the US on Wednesday, Wall Street ended higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.7%, the S&P 500 up 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.9%.

In Asia on Thursday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo closed up 1.1%.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a stimulus package worth more than USD100 billion as he tries to ease the squeeze from inflation and rescue his premiership with his poll ratings at a record low.

"We are seeing that the tide is turning from the vicious cycle of deflation – symbolised by low prices, low wages and low growth," Kishida told a meeting where he revealed the size of the package would be around JPY17 trillion, or USD113.2 billion.

The plan involves income and residential tax reductions, and cash handouts to low-income households, according to public broadcaster NHK and other local media. Fuel subsidies will also be extended, and there will be funds to promote investment in high-tech areas including the chip and space industries.

In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.3%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was up 0.7%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.9%.

Gold was quoted at USD1,985.49 an ounce early Thursday, lower than USD1,978.93 on Wednesday.

Brent oil was trading at USD85.44 a barrel, lower than USD86.36.

In Thursday's UK corporate calendar, telecommunications firm BT and grocer Sainsbury's report half-year results, while oil major Shell, consumer healthcare business Haleon and medical equipment maker Smith & Nephew release third quarter figures. A trading statement from gambling firm Entain is also expected.

Thursday's global economic calendar sees the UK interest rate decision at 1200 GMT and the US unemployment insurance weekly claims report at 1330 GMT.

By Elizabeth Winter, Alliance News senior markets reporter

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