Market overview: FTSE ends lower after weak UK PMI, jobs
1630: Close The FTSE ended down 50.93 points to 6679.18 after weak UK manufacturing data and US jobs figures. The UK manufacturing PMI for July from economic researchers Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply came in at 55.4 after a reading of 57.2 the month before. In the US, non-farm payrolls increased by 209,000 in July, compared to expectations of 230,000, while the unemployment rate edged up to 6.2% from 6.1%. Capita and United Utilities were heavy fallers after Credit Suisse downgraded its rating on the stocks to 'neutral' and 'underperform', respectively.
1500: The US ISM manufacturing index rose to 57.1 in July, versus a reading of 55.3 in June (consensus: 56).
1455: The University of Michigan's consumer confidence gauge edged higher in July, hitting 81.8 (consensus: 81.8).
1330: US non-farm payrolls increased by 209,000 in July, according to the Department of Labour. The consensus estimate had been for an increase of 230,000. The previous two month's readings were revised higher by a combined 15,000. Average hourly earnings rose by 2% year-on-year (consensus: 2.2% year-on-year).
1234: Tesco's market share decreased to 28.3% over the last 12 weeks from 29.7%, while Sainsbury's remained at 16.4% and Morrisons fell to 10.9% from 11.4%, according to the latest data from Nielsen, Bloomberg reports.
1137: IAG's shares have given up gains but are still trading in the positive territory. According to analyst Stephen Furlong from Davy Research, "the maintenance of guidance will likely reassure the market in what is an excellent performance relative to peers".
1121: Investec has cut its rating for RBS from 'hold' to 'sell', saying that following last week's "wild euphoria" after a pre-release of the bank's better-than-expected Q2 results, "investors should again feel able to short the stock with confidence".
0930: Markit's UK manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index for the month of July has come in at 55.4, versus a reading of 57.2 for the month before (consensus: 57.2), as both output and new orders slowed. FTSE 100 down 72 to 6,658.
0858: Markit's Eurozone purchasing managers' index for manufacturing was revised lower to 51.8 in July from 51.9, previously, surprising analysts who had expected it to remain unchanged. A reading above 50 signals expansion.
0850: UK stocks have begun the session moving lower, tracking losses in the US and Asia overnight. That comes ahead of this afternoon's all important monthly US non-farm payrolls report. The final reading for the HSBC/Markit Chinese manufacturing sector purchasing managers index (PMI) has been revised slightly lower, to a reading of 51.7 instead of 52. Compass is at the bottom of the pile in the early going, alongside Glencore and RBS. The UK's own manufacturing PMI will be released at 09:28. FTSE 100 down 48 to 6,682.