The FTSE 100 is projected to tack on a further 0.4% today, still riding Wednesday’s US data and today’s update from China, which said that its economic growth reached 11.9% in Q1 2010. The UK’s blue chip index advanced 0.6% yesterday on a batch of positive updates that cam,e out in the US yesterday. Consumer prices were reported to have risen by 0.1% in March, while retail sales improved 1.6% month on month and 7.6% year on year in March. The Fed’s Beige Book survey of regional economic conditions also gave markets a boost, showing signs of recovery in US economy over the past six weeks. Telecom group BT (LSE: BT.A) was in the lead with a 4.4% advance. Miner Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) gained 4%, while banking group Barclays (LSE: BARC), fashion house Burberry (LSE: BRBY), silver miner Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) and another bank Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN) tacked on nearly 3%. Publisher Pearson (LSE: PSON) added 2.5%. No FTSE 100 constituent lost 2% or more yesterday. Insurer Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) and Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF) shed 1.9% and 1.8% respectively. Clothing retailer Next (LSE: NXT) and defence contractor Cobham (LSE: COB) declined 1.3%, while consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) and British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) lost 1.2%. US stocks were buoyant yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.95%, the broader S&P 500 index surged 1.1% and the technology heavy NASDAQ composite rallied 1.6%. Asian markets were in buying mode today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.4%, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6%, South Korea’s KOSPI added 0.5% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tacked on 0.15%. China’s Shanghai Composite Index went against the tide, sliding 0.55%. Commodities Oil prices advanced with June Brent Crude reaching US$87.15/barrel, while US light, sweet crude for May delivery improved to US$86.05/barrel. Precious metals were at about the same levels as yesterday. Gold and silver were slightly higher at US$1,155/oz and US$18.43/oz respectively, while platinum inched lower to US$1,723/oz. Nickel was the only base metals to advance, rising to US$12.03/lb. Copper and zinc held steady at US$3.59/lb and US$1.08/lb respectively. Today’s economic updates will include US initial and continuing jobless claims and the Philly Fed index.

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