Yahoo Finance What you need to know before the open
Fears that the crisis in Ukraine will escalate are expected to see European markets open lower today.
Signs of growing corporate takeover activity strengthened confidence yesterday, offsetting the persistent worries for a time.
US secretary of state John Kerry has called on Moscow to either work towards diffuse the situation in Ukraine, or face more sanctions.
Meanwhile, S&P has downgraded Russia to the notch above junk grade of BBB- this morning, because of capital outflows and economic risks.
Corporate news
RBS has said the UKFI has confirmed it’d block a proposal which would mean the bank could pay bonuses twice that of employees’ salaries.
William Hill’s said it’s having to close 109 betting shops this year as a direct result of the government's decision to hike Machine Games Duty to 25 per cent.
And WPP has posted a 1.5 per cent rise in revenues in the first quarter, to £2.57bn, despite being hit by a strong pound and weak faster growth market currencies.
Data in focus
9.30am: UK March BBA mortgage apporovals
9.30am: UK March retail sales
2.45pm: US April Markit services PMI
2.55pm: US April Reuters/Michigan consumer sentiment index
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