The FTSE 100 opens slightly lower at 7,310.2 despite widespread strength in the mining sector. The US and North Korea are planning military exercises today which could stoke the simmering tensions between the two countries.
Wealth manager Rathbone Brothers (RAT) ticks up 0.65% to £27.88 after confirming weekend reports that it is in exclusive merger talks with stockbroker Smith & Williamson.
Newspaper publisher Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) slips 0.3% lower to 617.5p on reports it is considering a sale of its free Metro newspaper.
Oil services firm Wood Group (WG.) is down slightly at 573.5p despite being awarded a five-year multi-million contract by Phillips 66 to supply maintenance services on a refinery near Houston, Texas.
Warehouse REIT announces its intention to float on AIM after raising up to £150m. The company said it will invest in a diversified portfolio of UK warehouse assets located in urban areas and is targeting a dividend yield of 5.5p in the year to 31 March 2019.
Banknote authentication tech supplier Spectra Systems (SPSY) is 20% higher at 90.5p. The company reported strong trading and expects to significantly exceed market expectations in the year to 31 December 2017.
Gfinity (GFIN) is appointed as an e-sports partner for Formula 1 to deliver the Formula 1 E-Sports series in September, helping the stock gain 3.3% to 21.7p.
Micro cap miner Sula Iron & Gold (SULA:AIM) falls 6.9% to 0.14p as investors react to the dilution implied by a £0.9m placing. The money is being raised to keep exploration efforts in Sierra Leone going through 2018.
