(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Tuesday, ahead of several interest rate decisions from central banks across the world this week.
Meanwhile, Japanese and Australian equities rose following the countries' latest interest rate calls.
IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open down 30.9 points, 0.4%, at 7,691.65 on Tuesday. The index of London large-caps closed down 4.87 points, 0.1%, at 7,722.55 on Monday.
In Japan on Tuesday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was up 0.7%.
In a long-anticipated move, the Bank of Japan ended its negative interest rate policy.
The Japanese central bank said it judged its monetary easing policy and yield curve control programme have "fulfilled their roles".
It raised its short-term policy rate to a range of 0.0% to 0.1%, from minus 0.1% previously. The move marks the BoJ's first interest rate hike in 17 years.
The BoJ said policymakers "assessed the virtuous cycle between wages and prices", and judged that it "came in sight" that its 2% price stability target "would be achieved in a sustainable and stable manner" by the end of its outlook period.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.4%.
Australia's central bank left its key interest rates unchanged, and it is "not ruling anything in or out" in terms of future moves.
The Reserve Bank of Australia said the cash rate target will remain at 4.35% and the interest rate paid on exchange settlement balances will stay at 4.25%. The decision was expected by the market, according to FXStreet-cited consensus.
The RBA had kept its cash rate target unchanged at its February and December meetings, after enacting a 25 basis point hike in November.
In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.6%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was down 1.2%.
Sterling was quoted at USD1.2706 early Tuesday, lower than USD1.2722 at the London equities close on Monday.
The euro traded at USD1.0865 early Tuesday, lower than USD1.08707 late Monday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY150.45, up versus JPY149.12.
In the US on Monday, Wall Street ended higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.2%, the S&P 500 up 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.8%.
Gold was quoted at USD1,156.23 an ounce early Tuesday, lower than USD2,158.93 on Monday.
Brent oil was trading at USD86.61 a barrel early Tuesday, higher than USD86.27 late Monday.
In Tuesday's UK corporate calendar, half-year results are due from retailer DFS Furniture and Close Brothers Group.
In the economic calendar on Tuesday, there is the eurozone and Germany ZEW economic sentiment survey at 1000 GMT.
By Sophie Rose, Alliance News senior reporter
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