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FTSE 100 poised for lower open, Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ rise

Last updated: 02:54 18 Mar 2010 EDT, First published: 03:54 18 Mar 2010 EDT

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The FTSE 100 is set to inch 0.2% lower after posting gains in the two previous sessions as investors are likely to be cautious ahead of today’s US data, which will include inflation and jobless claims update and the Philly Fed index.
In the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.45%, the broader S&P 500 index added 0.6|% and the technology heavy NASDAQ composite improved 0.5%.

Asian shares were down. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite Index slid 0.15%, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.95% and South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 0.45%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 went against the tide, posting a gain of 0.2%.

In the UK, software developed Autonomy Corporation (LSE: AU) emerged atop the leaderboard with a 4.6% advance. Miner Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) and insurance focused investor Resolution (LSE: RSL) both climbed 3.4%. Retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KGF) and copper miner Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) added 2.4%, while oil and gas producer Cairn Energy (LSE: CNE) added 2.1%.

Security services group G4S (LSE: GFS) was at the bottom of the pile with a loss of nearly 5%. Insurer Standard Life (LSE: SL) declined 3.9%, hedge fund manager Man Group (LSE: EMG) lost 3.7%, while tour operator Thomas Cook (LSE: TCG) slid 2.8% and retailed Marks and Spencer (LSE: MKS) was down 2.3%.

Commodities

Oil prices were slightly lower. May Brent Crude moved down to US$81.30/barrel, while US light, sweet crude retreated to US$82.28/barrel after posting good gains yesterday.

Precious metals were in decline as gold dropped to US$1,119/oz, while silver and platinum slid to US$17.38/oz and US$1,629/oz respectively.

Base metals were slightly lower. Copper and nickel moved down to US$3.40/lb and US$10.05/lb, while zinc slid to US$1.04/lb.

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