Markets Overview: (Source: Bloomberg, FT, Reuters, DJ Newswires)

The UK 100 is set to open up 10pts at 6608pts building on decent day’s trading yesterday which saw the flagship index gain 84.5pts. A combination of corporate earnings and broker upgrades set the positive mood.

Shares in EasyJet (EZJ.L) soared 3.7% higher after the budget carrier reported a narrower-than-expected loss and raised its forward guidance by 25%, pleasing shareholders and institutions alike with Investec and Credit Suisse both encouraging their clients to buy the stock.

Kingfisher (KGF.L) owner of B&Q and Screwfix, rallied near 6% to its highest price since 2000 after announcing a rise in profits and pledging to return £200m to shareholders. Brokers Oriel, Nomura, S&P Capital IQ and Jefferies all raised their forecasts for the company as a result.

Broker upgrades were also issued on drinks company SAB Miller (SAB.L) up 5% and building supplies merchant Travis Perkins (TPK.L) up 3.3% underlining the importance of pleasing City analysts.

Travis Perkins’ sector peer Wolseley (WOS.L) reported an increase in sales and profits pushing shares higher by over 3%. The obvious connection was being made between suppliers and homebuilders resulting in UK 100 listed Persimmon (PSN.L) and Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) advancing 1.1% and 2.3% respectively.

The notable underperformer was Royal Mail Group (RMG.L), shares fell 3.2% after announcing a plan to cut 1300 jobs.

US Markets ensured the party did not come to an end. The Dow Jones advanced 91pts to 16,367pts, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ also enjoyed an afternoon of gains after economic data showed consumer confidence at a six-year high.

Positive trading in Asia completed a clean sweep of global stock market gains. Considering a bulk of US purchases derive from Eastern manufacturing, traders from Japan, to India, to Hong Kong, justly cheered the confidence of US consumers.

Results today: Bellway (BWY.L) Posts a 73% rise in H1 pretax profit to£103.8m on revenue up to £701.1m after it sold 25% new homes with more of them in the higher price south half of England. Lamprell (LAM.L) posts pretax profit of $40m ($23.3m expected) on revenue of $1.1bn in line with expectations, but warns revenue will be lower this year and next. IQE (IQE.L) Profit jumps 51% to £13m, revenue jumped 44% TO £126.8M  including a £31m contribution from Kopin Wireless and is confident of achieving 2014 earnings expectations.

In focus today: US MBA Mortgage applications at 11:00, US  Durable goods orders at 13:30, US Markit service PMI AT 13:58, US Bank stress tests at 20:30.

Commodities: Gold rose as much as 0.4% to $1,315.81 oz climbing for the second day as demand increases for the haven amid tensions in Ukraine. Copper falls 0.7% to $6,554.25 tn amid concern that global economic growth and default risks are rising in China. Iron ore’s forecast has been cut by the Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics to $103 tn in 2015 as miners aim to increase output.

FX: Euro weakens against most of its peers on speculation the region’s economy may struggle to recover. Euro fell to $1.3836 and 0/1% against to 141.39 Yen. Yen was little changed against the dollar to 102.26.

For any help you may require placing trades or in terms of market information, put a call in to our trading floor – all part of the service.

Overnight Macro Data: (Source: Reuters/DJ Newswires)

• No Major Data Overnight

See Live Macro calendar for all details

UK Company Headlines: (Source: Reuters/DJ Newswires)

• Finnair, BA, Japan Airlines to start Europe-Japan joint flights
• UK finance minister says Lloyds proceeds will cut national debt
• TUI Travel says summer bookings in line with expectations
• AstraZeneca raises bet on Japan by buying out Sumitomo
• L&G secures 3 bln stg annuity deal with ICI
• Future announces management shake-up
• Entertainment One sees FY earnings in line with its expectations
• Enquest to increase 2014 production
• UK’s Carpetright warns on profit again as sales slow
• UK energy firm SSE to split retail and wholesale arms
• APR Energy FY revenue rises 16 pct to $308 mln
• APR Signs industrial contract in South Pacific
• Standard Life buys fund firm Ignis for 390 mln pounds
• IQE profit jumps 51 pct due to acquisitions, cost cuts
• Housebuilder Bellway’s first-half pretax rises 73 pct
• Moss Bros hikes dividend as profits rise
• Homeserve sees FY line with market expectations