Shares tipped to open flat

PRE-OPEN REPORT: Headline shares are tipped to open flat to slightly lower today, according to financial websites, with retailers remaining in focus as B&Q owner Kingfisher and Kesa Electricals publish numbers.

US & ASIA

In the US last night, the Dow rose 46 points at 10,573, the Nasdaq Composite added 12 points at 2,301 and the S&P500 gained 4 points at 1,125.

In Asia today, the Nikkei was last down 12 points at 9,504, while the Hang Seng ended the morning off 98 points at 21,627.

Crude oil traded at $75.58 a barrel on Nymex.

Gold settled at $1,267 an ounce.

LONDON MARKETS

In the corporate diary today, interim results are due from Elektron, Global Energy Development, Gulfsands Petroleum, Kingfisher, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel and Work Group.

Final results are scheduled from BlueBay Asset Management, Centaur Media, Dunelm Group, Kier Group and Quayle Munro.

Booker Group, Chemring Group and Kesa Electricals are expected to issue trading statements.

Absolute Return Trust, Airsprung Group, Anite Group, Best of the Best, Braveheart Investment Group, Circle Oil, Downing Distribution, Games Workshop Group, Kesa Electricals, Prosperity Voskhod Fund, Terra Catalyst Fund, The Capital Pub Company and Tricorn Group host their AGMs.