London's FTSE 100 index is expected start the week on a dull note after weak economic data from China provided some gloom early on.

City sources are predicting that the Footsie will open down around 14 points from Friday's close of 5,712.

According to a monthly survey by HSBC, the China manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped from 49.3 in July to 47.6 in August, its lowest reading since March 2009. The news follows the official PMI data from last week which fell to a nine-month low of 49.2. Any figure below 50 indicates a contraction.

However, said market analyst Michael Hewson from CMC Markets this morning: "Despite the sharp drop, the falls have raised expectations of additional easing measures by the People's Bank of China in the next week or so."

Additional weak data out last night in India and Australia could add to the weak investor sentiment. This ahead of the release of the Markit Eurozone manufacturing sector purchasing managers´ index at 08:58.

Spanish 10 year bond yields are up slightly, although short-term yields remain contained.

Acting as a backdrop, The European Central Bank´s Mario Draghi is scheduled to deliver a speech on proposals for a banking union this afternoon, before the European parliament (in a closed session).

US stock markets will remain closed today in observance of Labour Day.

 Stocks to watch 


Mobile titan Vodafone has signed a multi-country partner agreement with Kuwaiti outfit Zain. The agreement will see Zain offering Vodafone services and using the Vodafone brand across several of its key networks in the Middle East.

Africa-focused Ophir Energy has significantly upped estimates of potential resources at one of its sites in Tanzania. The firm said new seismic and petrophysical analysis had increased management estimates of in-place resource at its Upper Cretaceous Mzia discovery in 'Block 1' from the previously announced 2-6 trillion cubic feet (TCF) to 4-9 TCF.

Information technology services provider Phoenix IT has uncovered the mis-statement of a number of accounting balances within its Servo division and its subsidiaries over a number of accounting periods. Early signs indicate that certain control processes within the finance function at Servo's Birstall site in Leeds have been repeatedly and deliberately circumvented. The impact of correcting these cumulative mis-statements will result in a reduction to net assets of around £14m on a post-tax basis.



BC

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