Today, equipment rental firm Ashtead Group dropped 13% after issuing a downbeat annual profit guidance, which weighed on the FTSE 100, down 0.2% at 9am.

Oil prices gained,which boosted energy stocks.

In other news, musicMagpie rocketed 25% after it said it was in talks with BT Group and Aurelius Group about a possible buyout offer.

This week, investors will follow Wednesday’s Autumn Statement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt. He is due to unveil plans to cut Britain’s tax burden. On Sunday, he told reporters he wants to “show there is a path to a lower-tax economy”, adding that he plans to cut taxes for businesses. According to new reports, he is also considering cuts to income tax and national insurance.

Things to read today:

Microsoft hires former OpenAI chief Sam Altman (Financial Times) 

Jeremy Hunt considers cuts to income tax and national insurance (The Times)

Argentina Takes Leap Into Unknown With Javier Milei as President (Bloomberg)

Argentina set for sharp right turn as Trump-like radical wins presidency (Washington Post)