Today's top story: Banks eye £500m rate hike boost
Today's leader: No sign of Square Mile losing clearing crown
China has signalled it is ready to open discussions on a possible free trade deal with Britain once it leaves the EU, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has said this morning on a visit to Beijing.
The US begins the week under the threat of a government shutdown after President Donald Trump said he would be prepared to make the move if the Democrats refuse to back changes to immigration law or fund his famous wall at the border with Mexico.
Elsewhere, voters in Zimbabwe are going to the polls in an election in which former leader Robert Mugabe does not appear on the ballot.
The FTSE 100 is expected to open -0.57 per cent down this morning at 7,658 points, according to IG Squawk.The German Dax and French Cac are also expected to open down at 12, 794 points and 5,483 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Asian share markets drifted lower this morning while currencies kept to familiar ranges as a week of central bank meetings, corporate results and updates on US inflation and payrolls kicks off.
Technology and energy shares led Japan's Nikkei down 0.7 per cent, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.5 per cent.
Corporate news
- GVC Holdings – the owner of Ladbrokes this morning announced its joint venture with MGM Resorts
- Foxtons Group – the estate agent swung to a pre-tax loss for the first half of the year, while Lloyd's underwriter Hiscox posted higher first-half profit following a tough year last year.
Data
- 09.30 – UK mortgage approvals (June)
- 09.30 – UK consumer credit (June)
- 10.00 – EU Business climate
