London pre-open: Stocks to rise on positive US cues

(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to rise at the open on Friday following a positive close on Wall Street on the back of better-than-expected GDP data. The FTSE 100 was called to open 13 points higher at 7,774.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "Yesterday's Q4 GDP numbers showed the US economy expanded by 2.9%, while weekly jobless claims fell again to 186k from 192k the week before.

"If there are any concerns that the US economy is on the brink of a recession it's certainly not being reflected in the economic data, which still looks solid, as we look towards next week's Federal Reserve rate meeting.

"Today we get a look at the latest personal spending numbers for December, after seeing a sizeable slowdown in the November numbers to 0.1%, after a strong October showing of 0.9%."

The US personal consumption expenditure data is due at 1330 GMT.

In corporate news, convenience store retailer Bestway Group said it had purchased or agreed to buy a 3.45% stake in supermarket giant Sainsbury's but was not considering an offer for the chain.

"Bestway Group intends to hold its shares in Sainsbury's for investment purposes and looks forward to supporting the executive management team. Bestway Group may look to make further market purchases of Sainsbury's shares from time to time, subject to availability and price," the company said.

In response, Sainsbury's said it would "engage with Bestway Group in line with our normal interactions with shareholders".

Elsewhere, insurer Direct Line announced that chief executive Penny James has agreed with the board to step down with immediate effect.

Until a successor is identified, current chief commercial officer Jon Greenwood has been appointed acting CEO.

Paragon Banking Group raised its guidance for net interest margins for the 2023 fiscal year, saying that it had begun "well" with loan book growth and net interest margins both running ahead of expectations.

Nevertheless, its chief executive officer, Nigel Terrington, said that the economic backdrop remained "uncertain".

In a trading update for the quarter ending on 31 December, the specialist finance provider reported that new lending jumped by 21.7% to £861.7m. Full-year guidance for new business flows, operating costs and RoTE were unchanged, and net interest margin growth guidance was increased by five basis points to 25bp.