FTSE 100 trade in negative zone despite strong GDP update

US Markets: The early morning trends in the futures indices signal a negative opening for the US stock market. The S&P 500 future was down by 36.1 points, or 0.78%, at 4,622.8, while the Dow Jones 30 futures was down by 0.68%, or 264.1 points, at 35,848.5. The technology-heavy index Nasdaq Composite future was up by 0.84% at 15,347.75 (At the time of writing – 8:46 AM ET).

US Market News:

Shares of investment management company BlackRock (BLK) were up by 0.28% in premarket trading after the company earned an adjusted US$10.42 per share for the fourth quarter, higher than the estimated level of US$10.16. The asset under management rose above the US$10-trillion mark, which was slightly below the forecasts.

Shares of JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) fell by 2.7% in premarket trading after it beat estimates by 32 cents with quarterly earnings of US$3.33 per share.

Shares of financial services company Wells Fargo were up by 2.3% in the premarket trading after the company earned an adjusted US $1.25 per share, 12 cents above the estimates in Q4. Also, the overall profit was boosted by the release of loan loss provisions and improving loan demand.

UK Market News: The UK stock market traded in the red despite the fact that the monthly GDP grew by 0.9% as the benchmark index FTSE100 was down by 0.51% and FTSE 250 was down by 0.70%.

Countryside Properties Plc (LON: CSP): The shares of the housebuilding company was up by nearly 7.10%, with a day high of GBX 351.60, following the announcement of board change. The company’s CEO Iain McPherson will step down with immediate effect. While the company is still looking for a new CEO, company Chair John Martin will join as the interim CEO. 

Sensyne Health Plc (LON: SENS):  The shares of the health technology company was down by 69.54%, with a day low of GBX 22.50, following the announcement of updates regarding the company’s trading, ongoing formal sale process (FSP), financial position, and commercial progress including a proposed financing.

Royal Mail Plc (LON: RMG): The shares of the postal services company was down by 5.93%, with a day low of GBX 493.90, following the announcement that the company has purchased a total 216,632 of its ordinary shares at £0.01 each on the London Stock Exchange, Cboe BXE and Cboe CXE, through the company's broker, Merrill Lynch International.

European Indices Performance (at the time of writing):

FTSE 100 Index One Year Performance (as on 14 January 2022)

1 Year FTSE 100 Chart (Source: Refinitiv)

Top 3 Volume Stocks in FTSE 100*: Lloyds Banking Group plc (LLOY), Vodafone Group Plc (VOD), BP Plc (BP.)

Top 3 Sector traded in green*: Utilities (1.06%), Energy (0.22%) and Healthcare (0.13%)

Top 3 Sectors traded in red*: Basic Material (-1.00%), Consumer Cyclicals (-0.82%) and Industrials (-0.82%)

London Stock Exchange: Stocks Performance (at the time of writing)

Crude Oil Future Prices*: Brent future crude oil (future) price and WTI crude oil (future) price were hovering at US $85.09/barrel and US $82.52/barrel, respectively.

Gold Price*: Gold price was quoting at US$ 1,821.45 per ounce, down by 0.05% against the prior day closing.

Currency Rates*: GBP to USD: 1.3706; EUR to USD: 1.1449.

Bond Yields*: US 10-Year Treasury yield: 1.743%; UK 10-Year Government Bond yield: 1.1375%.

*At the time of writing