LSE opens lower after Easter break

The stock market week resumes after the Easter weekend. Yesterday, US markets remained open as Fed official James Bullard suggested that Fed Funds may need to rise to a "neutral" rate of 3.50%, and that a 0.75% rate hike could not be ruled out.

Today, the FTSE 100 inches down 0.2%, hampered by consumer staple and healthcare stocks, including Diageo, Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser.

Wizz Air shares also dropped due to concern over fuel costs amid high energy prices.

However, commodity stocks mitigated losses, with BP and Shell shares rising following a price target increase by JP Morgan.

Today, investors will focus on the IMF’s world economic outlook, as well as earnings reports from major US companies.

 

Things to read today:

Will Elon Musk Go Full Future-of-Civilization on Twitter? (The Atlantic)

Can the EU wean itself off Russian gas? (Financial Times)