Market news round up, upgrades & downgrades courtesy of Cantor Index

Cantor Opening Call

The FTSE is called to open today around unchanged to up 5, as we wait for the US markets to come back from the long weekend

UK Corporate Announcements

Netcall states that it remains confident of achieving a successful outcome for the full year
Fresnillo details that 2012 silver output has met its guidance, and gold output was ahead
SABMiller announces total volumes gained 6% up 17% on a reported basis and states the final quarter was in line with the expectations
Marston’s announces brewing profits are in line with the forecasts, and operating margins are slightly ahead
Dignity announces that it is acquiring Yew Holdings for £58.3m and is raising £24.2m

UK Market News

The business press highlights how a group of Barclays employers have lost their court request to keep their names private, as part of the Libor investigations
A Bloomberg survey has two thirds of international investors looking to increase their holdings in Equities in the next six months, and as a group are more bullish on stocks than they have been for over 3 years
Ocado has confirmed today that Stuart Rose is to succeed Grade who is to step down as chairman this year
Bloomberg reports on some market talk that recent share price falls in BG have opened up possible bid talk
Mervyn King speaks in Northern Ireland later today as some suggest that the latest cold snap could drag the UK down into a triple dip recession
Anglo American and Anglo American Platinum will be eyed after the secretary general of the ANC states that ‘They have stolen our money’ and that the state must take a bigger interest and control
09:30 UK sells £1.75bn of 10 year bonds

UK Analyst Upgrades

FTSE 100 Movers

Major European Companies Reporting

European Market Summary

EU Ministers meet today with reports suggesting that they have agreed on €9.2bn aid package for Greece
The CEO of EADS states that it will meet or beat earnings and sales goals at its 4 main units when it reports
S&P affirms that it keeps a negative watch on Portugal’s rating
German press has obtained Siemens results ahead of official publication and states that profit from continuing operations has stayed flat from last year
David Cameron is due to meet with Medvedev in Davos

S&P 500 Companies Reporting

Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Q4, -0.18, CA Inc, Q3, 0.605, CSX Corp, Q4, 0.39, EI du Pont de Nemours & Co, Q4, 0.072, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, Q4, 0.718, Google Inc, Q4, 10.561, International Business Machines Corp, Q4, 5.247, International Game Technology, Q1, 0.244, Intuitive Surgical Inc, Q4, 4.038, Johnson & Johnson, Q4, 1.169, Norfolk Southern Corp, Q4, 1.188, Regions Financial Corp, Q4, 0.207, Texas Instruments Inc, Q4, 0.072, Total System Services Inc, Q4, 0.328, Travelers Cos Inc/The, Q4, 0.131, Verizon Communications Inc, Q4, 0.518, Waters Corp, Q4, 1.585

US Market News

The corporate reporting season continues apace in the US today as those results traditionally scheduled for yesterday are held back until today, so far 72% of corporate earnings have surpassed the expectations
The S&P 500 is now just 5% under its all time highs, profits for companies in the index are expected to top $1tn in 2013, up 31% from the previous peak, and even at a price earnings ratio of 9.8%, under the 60 year average, the all time highs looks set to be breached this year
The move has allowed the likes of Calpers to move to 97% of its 2007 highs at $253.2bn
Apple is due to report tomorrow, and may post its first profit drop in over a decade and just 18 months since Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs

Overnight Market News

The Japanese 5 year yield has dropped down to its lowest level since 2003, to 0.145% as it announces that it is adopting a 2% inflation target and moves to open ended asset purchases
Malaysian markets have dropped down to 6 week lows after concerns that the upcoming election may end the current coalition

Economic Data Due

Economic Events

Eurozone ZEW