Market overview: Eurozone deflation persisted in March

LONDON (ShareCast) - 1000: Eurozone consumer prices fell 0.1% year-on-year in March, easing from a 0.3% drop a month earlier, Eurostat confirmed.

0930: The UK unemployment rate fell to 5.6% in the three months to February from 5.7% previously, as expected by the market.

0917: The FTSE 100 is up 0.22% at 7,076.03, with utility stocks leading the rise, as the index nears Wednesday's record closing high of 7,096.78. "As the election rumbles on, the UK's economic releases today will be heavily scrutinised," said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell. UK average weekly earnings, jobless claims and the unemployment rate all due for release this morning. The latter, in particular, is forecast to fall from 5.7% to 5.6% in the three months ended February.