Shares opened down a touch today as investors wait for key economic news and the Bank of England's comments when it makes its interest rates announcement tomorrow.
On what was expected to be a quiet day for trading, the FTSE-100, the index was slipped 3.8 points to 5845.77 in early trading after a strong session yesterday.
Figures later on Britain's construction sector were set to give further guidance on the state of economy after service sector data from the same index - known as the PMI - hit record lows yesterday.
ITV was set for a rocky day after admitting ad revenues plunged 42% last month and fundraisings for National Express and Hiscox - under fire for refusing to pay out on business interruption claims for covid - were set to cause volatilty in those stocks.
Early trades saw ITV actually gain nearly 3% to 74.32p as some traders took that view that any ad revenue fall less than 50% was a win in these markets.
Defensive stocks such as AstraZeneca moved into positive territory, with the drugmaker up nearly 2% at 8643p but on the negative side, FTSE fallers included Carnival the cruise liner operator, off nearly 5% amid continuing concerns about when it can resume offering holidays and Whitbread, the Premier Travel Inns business, down 3% at 2750p on similar fears about travel.
