Friday, Aug 17, 2012

1310 GMT [Dow Jones] FTSE 100 maintains gains, up 0.1% at 5840.12, just about staying in the black. Banks continue to lead gains on hopes that more will be done to support the euro zone's financially stressed economies following recent comments by Germany's Chancellor Merkel. Barclays is up 3.1% and Lloyds gains 2.9%. Johnson Matthey gains 2.5% as platinum prices rise. Elsewhere, Lonmin is off 2.2%, after having posted deeper losses on the day earlier. One broker warns the company may have to restructure its debt or seek additional funding as a result of the production losses. Still, gains on London's benchmark index are slight amid thin volumes. Investors will look to the US open for further cues. University of Michigan confidence survey is at 1355 GMT, while Leading Indicators are due at 1400 GMT. (nina.bains@dowjones.com)

 

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 17, 2012 09:10 ET (13:10 GMT)