Today's top story: Gordon Ramsay turns red as tough market bites
Today's leader: Rail nationalisation? It's time Britain got on with a real privatisation instead
US shares edged up overnight, with the Dow Jones rising 62.52 points, or 0.25. This means the blue-chip index has risen for nine out of 10 sessions.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq was also up overnight, rallying 46 points, while the S&P 500 rallied 0.41 per cent.
LCG's Jasper Lawler said: "Wall Street managed a positive close overnight in cautious trade as investors mulled over North Koreas threats to cancel the planned summit with the US and as traders contemplated a more hawkish Fed."
Brent crude crept up towards $80 per barrel, a level it has not seen since November 2014.
In Asia, markets also gained. The MSCIs Asia-Pacific index rose 0.1 per cent, while Japans Nikkei gained 0.7 per cent.
In Europe, stocks are expected to open broadly higher, buoyed by a 0.2 per cent rise in the euro. The FTSE is expected to gain 0.03 per cent on opening, the German DAX is expected to rally 0.12 per cent, and the French CAC is expected to open 0.18 per cent higher.
After the countrys two leading parties agreed to the possibility of a coalition, Italian stocks are also expected to do well, with the MIB gaining 0.38 per cent.
Corporate news
- British Land – will post its annual results after it announced it had submitted its initial planning permission for a £4bn Canada Water redevelopment this week
- Mothercare – the embattled retailer announced it would be rehiring its former CEO, even as it plans to close 50 stores
- Royal Mail -is under fire over a £6m payment to the group's CEO. The company has final results today as well.
Data
- 11.30 – European Central Bank vice-president Vito Constancio to speak
- 17.00 – MPC member Andy Haldane to speak
