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Markets await key US jobs report ahead of Fed rate decision - business live Markets await key US jobs report ahead of Fed rate decision - business live
(35 minutes later)
9.43am GMT
09:43
UK manufacturing and construction output shrinks
Just in, a flurry of UK data for January from the Office for National Statistics.
It provides the first official snapshot of how key parts of the economy were performing at the beginning of 2017.
Here’s a snapshot:
Manufacturing output fell 0.9% (economists forecast a 0.6% drop)
Industrial output fell 0.4% (in line with forecasts)
Construction output fell 0.4% (economists expected a 0.2% drop)
Trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly to £10.8bn
Updated
at 9.45am GMT
9.19am GMT
09:19
BT shares up 4% after Openreach deal
Investors have welcomed BT’s agreement to separate from Openreach, which controls the UK’s broadband infrastructure.
BT is top of the FTSE 100 leader board this morning, with shares up 4% at the moment (and higher earlier).
Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital, gives his take on BT’s shares:
Shares in BT rallied on the open after the company finally reached a settlement to separate its prized Openreach division. It ends a lot of uncertainty over the future of BT and investors cheered the news with the stock gaining 5% in early trading.
It’s a marked contrast to the dark day in January when the shares plunged by a fifth just in just a few hours on troubles at its Italian division. Today’s gains have so far not seen the stock recover to the level it was trading at before news of the accounting trouble in Italy rocked the group.
9.10am GMT9.10am GMT
09:1009:10
German imports jump in JanuaryGerman imports jump in January
Earlier we had German trade data, which showed a stronger-than-expected rise in imports in January according to the federal statistics office.Earlier we had German trade data, which showed a stronger-than-expected rise in imports in January according to the federal statistics office.
Imports grew by 3% compared with December, outpacing 2.7% growth in exports which was also a bigger-than-expected rise.Imports grew by 3% compared with December, outpacing 2.7% growth in exports which was also a bigger-than-expected rise.
Germany imported goods worth €84bn in January, and exported goods worth €99bn.Germany imported goods worth €84bn in January, and exported goods worth €99bn.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.5% increase in imports and a 1.85% rise in exports.Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.5% increase in imports and a 1.85% rise in exports.
German #exports in January 2017: +11.8% on January 2016 #foreigntrade https://t.co/on1KRpvqWc pic.twitter.com/g7hmjLUbvdGerman #exports in January 2017: +11.8% on January 2016 #foreigntrade https://t.co/on1KRpvqWc pic.twitter.com/g7hmjLUbvd
8.53am GMT8.53am GMT
08:5308:53
Markets rise ahead of US jobs reportMarkets rise ahead of US jobs report
Markets have a spring in their step this morning, with European indices following Asian shares higher.Markets have a spring in their step this morning, with European indices following Asian shares higher.
Today’s non-farm payrolls are viewed as the last hurdle to get over before the Fed takes the plunge and raises rates next week. So the report is keenly awaited on both sides of the Atlantic.Today’s non-farm payrolls are viewed as the last hurdle to get over before the Fed takes the plunge and raises rates next week. So the report is keenly awaited on both sides of the Atlantic.
Here are the scores so far this morning:Here are the scores so far this morning:
FTSE 100: +0.4% at 7,343FTSE 100: +0.4% at 7,343
Germany’s DAX: +0.4% at 12,024Germany’s DAX: +0.4% at 12,024
France’s CAC: +0.3% at 4,996France’s CAC: +0.3% at 4,996
Italy’s FTSE MIB: +0.9% at 19,739Italy’s FTSE MIB: +0.9% at 19,739
Spain’s IBEX: +0.4% at 10,041Spain’s IBEX: +0.4% at 10,041
Europe’s STOXX 600: +0.3% at 374Europe’s STOXX 600: +0.3% at 374
8.43am GMT8.43am GMT
08:4308:43
BT reaches agreement to legally split from OpenreachBT reaches agreement to legally split from Openreach
In terms of corporate news, BT dominates this morning.In terms of corporate news, BT dominates this morning.
The telecoms giant has finally reached an agreement with Ofcom to legally separate Openreach, which controls the UK’s broadband infrastructure.The telecoms giant has finally reached an agreement with Ofcom to legally separate Openreach, which controls the UK’s broadband infrastructure.
BT has been in dispute with the regulator over the split for about two years. Under the deal Openreach will be stripped of BT branding and become a “distinct company with its own staff and management, together with its own strategy and a legal purpose to serve all of its customers equally”.BT has been in dispute with the regulator over the split for about two years. Under the deal Openreach will be stripped of BT branding and become a “distinct company with its own staff and management, together with its own strategy and a legal purpose to serve all of its customers equally”.
The idea is that an independent Openreach will boost competition in the sector and boost the roll-out of superfast broadband.The idea is that an independent Openreach will boost competition in the sector and boost the roll-out of superfast broadband.
BT’s rivals, including Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone, have argued that BT has deliberately been slow to open up the network to their engineers, which has hampered their ability to offer homes superfast broadband access.BT’s rivals, including Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone, have argued that BT has deliberately been slow to open up the network to their engineers, which has hampered their ability to offer homes superfast broadband access.
Here is our full story:Here is our full story:
8.14am GMT8.14am GMT
08:1408:14
The agenda: It's US payrolls dayThe agenda: It's US payrolls day
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.
It’s non-farm payrolls day in the US. Economists polled by Reuters are predicting that 190,000 jobs were added in February, following 227,000 in January.It’s non-farm payrolls day in the US. Economists polled by Reuters are predicting that 190,000 jobs were added in February, following 227,000 in January.
It would take an absolute shocker on the downside to derail expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates at its policy meeting on Wednesday next week.It would take an absolute shocker on the downside to derail expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates at its policy meeting on Wednesday next week.
Victoria Clarke, economist at Investec, said a rate hike next week is pretty much a done deal:Victoria Clarke, economist at Investec, said a rate hike next week is pretty much a done deal:
The Fed looks to be locked onto a course that would see it raise the Fed funds target rate range by 25 basis points to 0.75-1.00%, short of a sizeable shock to market sentiment and/or a massive downside surprise in the February payrolls report.The Fed looks to be locked onto a course that would see it raise the Fed funds target rate range by 25 basis points to 0.75-1.00%, short of a sizeable shock to market sentiment and/or a massive downside surprise in the February payrolls report.
Note that with a March hike effectively a done deal, the key focus for markets will be the forward guidance on the prospect of rate rises ahead.Note that with a March hike effectively a done deal, the key focus for markets will be the forward guidance on the prospect of rate rises ahead.
Some economists think today’s payrolls number could come a fair bit stronger than consensus expectations, not least because of a strong ADP jobs report on Wednesday, which easily beat expectations.Some economists think today’s payrolls number could come a fair bit stronger than consensus expectations, not least because of a strong ADP jobs report on Wednesday, which easily beat expectations.
We’ll be tracking all the main events through the day...We’ll be tracking all the main events through the day...