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

• Barclays Q1 profit up on investment bank rebound
• Enquest to buy further stake in North Sea Kraken discovery
• Cobham starts year well, order book grows
• Whitbread profit up, growth continues into new year
• McBride says sales +3% in year to date
• Borders & southern says raises £46.5m in placing
• Asos Q4 retail sales +34%
• Meggitt expects FY sales to grow by at least 10%
• SEGRO – £5.5m of rental income secured in Q1
• BAT Q1 volumes +0.7%
• Taylor Wimpey says trading is at upper end of its view
• Croda posts Q1 pretax profit growth
• Kazakhmys Weather hits Q1 production
• AstraZeneca Q1 revenue and earnings fall
• Unilever warns of tough times even as Q1 sales rise

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

UK 100 called to open +10pts after US posted good gains following the blowout earnings from tech giant Apple which overshadowed some murky macro data (UK GDP back in contraction, which is at odds with other recent industry data; US durable goods orders collapsing; a technically uncovered German bond auction). Sentiment also helped by some European politicians moving focus to growth over austerity, hoping to reduce the longer-term fallout from excessive short-term of stimulus.

The Fed left rates and its dovish statement unchanged (rates low until end-2014), but acknowledged that inflation had ticked up and unemployment remained high despite the economy expanding moderately. It also reiterated that it was prepared to do more if necessary, meaning the door has not been closed on more QE. Same true in the UK, after recent contradictory macro data? IMF comments were also positive on the health of Spain’s top banks (sufficiently capitalised? really?) while ratings agency Fitch suggested that strong US manufacturing is masking weakness from emerging behemoth China.

Overnight macro data shows UK Consumer confidence returning to growth (highest level in 9 months). Asian markets positive after Fed Chairman Bernanke’s press conference, however gains  being kept in check by Eurozone worries. New Zealand also left rates unchanged. Focus now turns to the Bank of Japan which where it is expected to ease policy further.

At first glance, this morning’s Q1 results from Barclays, AstraZeneca and Royal Dutch Shell appear to have beaten consensus expectations.  The fact that these three account for over 12% of the UK 100 likely helping contribute to  the index’ s positive opening call.

Morning Press Selection:

• Banks take provisions for PPI past £6bn (FT)
• Pound hit by UK’s fall into recession (FT)
• Yen decline seen unlikely despite BoJ easing move (FT)
• Industrial metals bulls point to uplift by end-2012 (FT)

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

• UK        Nationwide Consumer Confidence – Better than expected
• JP         All Ind Activity Index – Better than expected
• AUS      Conf Board Leading Index – Growth dropped