Wealth Management news

Early Trading

UK stocks are expected to open slightly higher this morning, as investors look to continue a rebound amid hopes for more central bank stimulus in China and the European Union.

World Markets

Asian stocks extended gains on Tuesday as a combination of stabilising Chinese markets, rebounding oil prices and solid US consumption data prompted investors to look for bargains after last week’s decline.

US markets were closed for the President’s Day public holiday.

UK stocks advanced for a second day amid investor speculation that the recent share losses were overdone. Anglo American Plc led a gauge of UK miners higher with a gain of 5.1%, while Glencore Plc advanced 2.8%.

Headlines

Brent crude advanced above $34 a barrel as Saudi Arabia is said to meet with Russia in Doha on Tuesday to discuss the market. Futures climbed as much as 4.3% in London, rising for a third day. The increase boosted shares of Asian energy companies, which led gains in equities.

HSBC Holdings Plc recommitted its future to London, ending 10 months of deliberations over whether to move its headquarters, after securing concessions from the UK government on regulation and taxes. Europe’s largest bank said it will continue its 23-year stay in the UK capital after its board convened there on Sunday.

The European Central Bank will take measures to ensure its monetary policy reaches the real economy if that appears threatened by financial-market turbulence, President Mario Draghi said. “In the light of the recent financial turmoil, we will analyse the state of transmission of our monetary impulses by the financial system and in particular by banks.” In addition, the ECB will examine the impact of renewed declines in energy prices and “if either of these two factors entail downward risks to price stability, we will not hesitate to act,” he said.