Good morning. The FTSE 100 is tipped to open higher as the UK braces for the prospect of tighter coronavirus restrictions. Markets drifted overnight as the US dollar rose to a two-month high on persistent worries about the global economic recovery.
5 things to start your day
1) The Government is under growing pressure to support businesses affected by new coronavirus restrictions.
2) Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, has warned that up to 7,000 trucks could face two-day queues at Dover after Brexit.
3) Pubs in Dublin, many of which remain closed even after the longest shut-down in Europe, complain of a “lack of trust” from authorities.
4) Tesla promises $25,000 car in three years: Elon Musk says that there is not a long term future for internal combustion engine cars.
5) Chad Rigetti, the man behind the UK’s first quantum computer, on his hopes that the reality can finally match the hype
What happened overnight
Asian markets were mostly lower on Wednesday as investors kept a wary eye on how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the economic outlook.
Stocks slipped Wednesday in Japan, Hong Kong and Seoul but rose in Sydney after the government reported retail sales fared better than expected.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.6pc to 23,220.33, reopening after a four-day weekend, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged 0.1pc lower, to 23,700.69. South Korea’s Kospi sank 0.8pc to 2,313.86. Shares fell in Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan but rose in Jakarta.
The Shanghai Composite index inched up 0.1pc to 3,275.87. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.5pc to 5,871.90 after the government said retail sales fell 4.2pc from the month before in August, much less than the 11pc forecast, Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics said in a commentary.
Coming up today
- Interim results: Staffline, Ten Entertainment
- Full-year: PZ Cussons
- Trading statement: Halma, SSP Group
- Economics: Flash PMIs (UK, Japan, eurozone, US); Q2 GDP final reading (Spain)