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Slide in sterling helps FTSE 100

The FTSE 100 is in positive territory as the pound is being punished for the lack of political progress on the Brexit talks. 

The British equity benchmark has a relatively high level of overseas exposure so the side in sterling makes in more attractive to investors.

Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury are all higher this morning after Goldman Sachs wrote a positive note about the UK supermarket sector. The Wall Street titan stated that margins in 2018 should be more generous than in 2017 as the different between inputs costs and consumer prices for foods is diminishing. Deep discount supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi aren’t as aggressive in terms of pricing strategy according to Goldman Sachs – which is giving Sainsbury, Tesco and Morrison breathing space.

GBP/USD is under pressure as political uncertainty is hanging over the British government in relation to the Brexit talks. While the issue of the Irish boarder remains unresolved, sterling is likely to remain in the red. To make matters worse for the pound, the UK services PMI report fell to 53.8 in November from 55.6 in October – the slowdown in the expansion rate is slightly worry.

EUR/USD is in the red as a broad push higher in the US dollar is hurting the single currency. The greenback is in demand after the US Senate voted in favour of the tax reforms that President Trump’s promised on his way to the White House. Strong services figures from Italy and France this morning couldn’t prevent the decline in the euro. The French services sector hit its highest level since 2011, which proves the European Central Bank (ECB) loose monetary policy is working.

At 3pm (UK time) the US will announce the ISM-non manufacturing report and the consensus is for a reading of 59, and that compares with Octobers reading from 60.1.    

We are expecting the Dow Jones to open up 54 points at 22,344, and we are calling the S&P 500 flat at 2639.

Toll Brothers will announce their fourth-quarter results today.  

 

 

CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.


Disclaimer: CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although we are not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, we do not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination.

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