City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down two points from yesterday's close of 6,295, with investors lacking in direction following a mixed finish to Wednesday's session in the US.

US markets were largely unchanged by the close, although there had been signs of profit taking earlier in the session.

Asian markets, meanwhile, suffered a difficult session overnight, after both Nikon Corp and News Corp both slashed their earnings forecasts.

On the agenda today is the US consumer credit reading, the ECB interest rate, German industrial production, and US activity, while closer to home investors can expects the UK balance of trade, industrial production data, the Bank of England interest rate decision and - above all - Bank of England Governor-in-waiting Mark Carney's testimony before the Treasury Select Committee.

Analysts do not expect Mr.Carney to propose nominal GDP targeting at today's meeting but rather to concentrate on the possible benefits to be had from more flexible inflation targeting and increased guidance on rates. Of interest, speaking on Bloomberg TV former Bank of England (BoE) MPC member David Blachflower has alluded to the BoE's need to take into account a now ongoing sort of 'QE-war.'

In a similar tone, the European Central Bank's President, Mario Draghi, is expected to exhibit a 'dovish' tone, but is not expected to raise any objections to the recent rise in the single currency versus its main rivals.

In company news, National Express Group has been selected to operate two 15 year regional commuter rail contracts in Germany, serving cities including Cologne and Bonn. The company will start operating the contract in December 2015, after first procuring 36 new electric trains on behalf of the local authorities. The contracts will generate revenues of around 1.6bn euros for the 15 years as a whole.

Vodafone has posted a drop in group revenue for the last three months of 2012, blaming difficult market conditions in Europe. The FTSE 100 telecoms company said revenues fell 1.8% to £11,38bn year-on-year for the quarter, experiencing its biggest decline in Southern Europe.

Carol Fairweather has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at upmarket clothing retailer Burberry. Fairweather, who has been with Burberry for six years - most recently as Senior Vice President of Group Finance - will take up the position ahead of the group's annual general meeting in July 2013.

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National Express Group (NEX) share price
Burberry Group (BRBY) share price