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UK stock market morning note (September 17, 2012)

The FTSE 100 is called to open lower this morning after the gains seen at the end of last week with the focus likely to shift back to the euro zone debt situation. There is no UK economic data due for release today and only the Empire State Manufacturing figures from the US for investors to watch out for (see below). Commodity prices are mixed in trading and on the foreign exchanges, both the pound and euro are narrowly higher against the dollar. Japan is shut for a public holiday and the week begins on a quieter note for corporate news.

Today's Company announcements

Shell Alaska Drilling Update. It has reported that the containment dome aboard the Arctic Challenger barge was damaged during final testing of the Arctic Containment System and this has led the company to revise its 2012-2013 exploration programe. It will now forgo drilling into hydrocarbon zones this year and instead drill as many 'top wells' as time allows. Shell added that it looks forward to the final receipt of the drilling permits for the multi-year exploration programme upon the successful testing and deployment of the Arctic Containment System.