London pre-open: Stocks to fall after heavy Wall St losses

(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to fall at the open on Friday following heavy losses on Wall Street.

The FTSE 100 was called to open down around 55 points.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote, said optimism around the end of the US government shutdown is giving way to panic and chaotic market moves.

"What likely triggered yesterday's selloff was the growing realisation that a full set of jobs and inflation data won't land before the Federal Reserve's (Fed) December meeting," she said.

"And if that's the case - and if the Fed retains even a minimum degree of independence and reason - it wouldn't cut rates blindly. In this context, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said on Wednesday that 'price stability remains the more pressing risk as signals from the labour market don't indicate a cyclical downturn clearly enough to merit significant policy loosening while inflation remains well above target'.

"Well, happily, he will retire next February. But then, other Fed members echoed the same inflation worries, increasing discomfort among Fed doves, and risk takers. The US 2-year yield - which captures Fed expectations - rose to 3.60% yesterday as stocks fell.

"And if yields keep pushing higher, the stock selloff could accelerate. But if that selloff deepens, the Fed could be more tempted to cut rates. So Keep Calm and Carry On. The system remains well anchored to keep propping up asset prices - whatever the fundamentals. No one wants to be the Fed Chair who triggered another financial crisis, or caused a bubble to pop."

In corporate news, commercial property group Land Securities lifted its earnings forecasts despite the uncertain economic backdrop, following a strong first half.

Net rental income at the blue chip landlord rose 5.6% in the six months to September end to �284m, or by 5.2% on a like-for-like basis. Earnings per share rose 3.2% to 25.8p.

Aerospace company Melrose Industries held annual guidance after "significantly higher" adjusted operating profit in the four months to 31 October on the back of a 14% rise in revenues, driven by its engines division.

The company expects adjusted operating profit in a range of �620m to �650m and revenues of �3.42bn to �3.57bn.

Elsewhere, Supermarket Income REIT said it has bought 20 Carrefour supermarkets in France for �123m, nearly doubling its portfolio of sites with the French retailer.

The acquisition of the stores, which are said to benefit from low competition within their respective catchment areas, is in line with the company's strategy to "deploy capital into accretive pipeline opportunities which support long term dividend cover and growth".