London pre-open: Steep fall expected for FTSE opening

10th Apr 2012 07:20

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 56 points from Thursday's close of 5,724 following the bank holiday weekend, tracking significant falls seen in the US resulting from monthly jobs data. Stocks to watchThe UK's biggest bank, HSBC, has confirmed it is in talks over a possible sale of its retail banking and wealth management business in Korea. The bank said the discussions with the Korea Development Bank were ongoing and may or may not lead to a deal. "HSBC remains committed to the Korean market and continues to invest in developing its Korean Global Banking and Markets and Corporate Banking businesses," it said in a statement.Russian mining giant Polymetal celebrated its first gold pour at the Amursk POX facility last week and expects full capacity at the plant later this year. Two dore bars (which are alloys of a mixture of gold and silver) weighed 11,750g in total, containing 8,190g (263oz) of gold and 1,701g (55oz) of silver.Gold miner Randgold Resources has welcomed the announcement of a political settlement brokered in Mali by its West African neighbours, as it revealed the disruptions which followed last month's military coup had not materially affected its gold production in that country.