morning commentary – 09/12/13

Stocks look to open positively this morning here in London, taking their cue from a continuation of Friday’s late rally. Asian bourses, too, are closing out their sessions higher, with better-than-estimated Chinese exports compounding investors demand for risk following the positive jobs number. Shipments rose 12.7 per cent from a year earlier. 

Eurozone Q3 GDP year-on-year is due to be announced later today and will be important to investors seeking confirmation of an improving environment in which to allocate. European debt and stocks have been yielding strong returns since the depths of its crisis and could become more attractive if proactive central bank support became matched with an across-the-board steadying of output. 

Meanwhile, Gulf Keystone (GKP) has reported to the market this morning that claims by Excalibur have been dismissed and all issues have been decided in favour of the defendants.