The FTSE 100 is expected to rise 0.2% in early trade. The blue chip index added 0.2% on Friday, taking its weekly gain to nearly 2%.
Insurer Old Mutual (LON:OML) led the FTSE 100 on Friday with a 5% advance.
Utility companies United Utilities (LON:UU) and Severn Trent (LON:SVT) followed, tacking on 4.3% and 3.6% respectively.
Power generation company International Power (LON:IPR) rose 3.4%.
Oil and gas producer Cairn Energy (LON:CNE) was at the bottom of the pile with a 2.7% loss.
Mining major Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) and oil and gas supermajor Shell (LON:RDSB) shed 2.2% and 1.5% respectively.
In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.25%, the S&P 500 index advanced 0.3% and the technology heavy NASDAQ composite added 0.55%.
Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT) emerged as the top performer among the DJIA components on Friday, rising 1.5%.
DuPont (NYSE:DD) added 1.2%.
JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) declined 2% and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) shed 1%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI climbed 0.45% today.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tacked on 0.1%.
Commodities
US light, sweet crude for March delivery held steady at US$89.04/barrel.
Gold traded at US$1,348/oz, while silver rose to US$29.21/oz and platinum declined to US$1,835/oz.
Base metals rose with copper and nickel climbing to US$4.59/lb and US$12.94/lb, while zinc reached US$1.134/lb.