City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down six points from yesterday's close of 6,047, tracking modest declines seen in the US overnight following the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's December policy meeting.

During the meeting policy-makers indicated that they believed the bond-purchase programmes would operate until December at the latest.

The US is set to release unemployment rate figures today as leaders continue to tackle the country's financial deficit. Lawmakers are expected to announce that 155,000 jobs were added to the economy in December, which would be considerably less than is needed to bring down unemployment. It adds another spanner in the works as the US works through its economic crisis.

Other international economic announcements due out today include the German PMI Composite reading, the EU PMI Services reading, US factory orders and US goods orders.

UK economic announcements include mortgage approvals, trends in lending and consumer credit.

In company news, power systems giant Rolls-Royce is to provide repair and support services for aircraft engines operated by the US Marine Corps and Air Force as part of a contract worth 52.2m dollars. From the company's facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Oakland, California, as well as fleet support at customer bases, Rolls-Royce will work on the AE 1107C turboshaft.

Mining giant Anglo American has agreed to sell its 70 per cent interest in the Amapá iron ore mine in Brazil. The terms of the deal with Zamin Ferrous are confidential and subject to state regulatory approval, but the company said it was expected to complete in 2013. Anglo American said it had never meant to hold its interest in Amapá over the long term.

Balfour Beatty, the FTSE 250 global infrastructure group, announced Friday that it has been awarded a five-year highway maintenance contract by Wiltshire Council. The contract, which is worth £150m, is due to start of June 1st this year and covers highway maintenance, grass cutting, grounds maintenance, litter collection and street lighting as well as dealing with winter weather, drainage and bridges.

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