FTSE 100 to open lower after Trump tests positive for COVID-19

London's leading shares are set to open on the back foot ahead of the release this afternoon of US jobs figures for September. Spread betting quotes point to the FTSE 100 opening some 58 points lower at around 5,821. “A short while ago it was announced that Donald Trump tested positive for COVID -19, so no doubt he will quarantine. This put pressure on US index futures and European indices are called lower,” suggested CMC’s David Madden. US indices had a reasonably solid day yesterday with the Dow rising 35 points to close at 27,817 and the S&P 500 climbing 18 points to 3,381. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 was off 19 points at 23,166. Hong Kong was closed for a market holiday. Around the markets Sterling: US$1.2860, down 0.27 cents 10-year gilt: yielding 0.238%, up 0.6 basis points Gold: US$1,899.20 an ounce, down US$17.10 Brent crude: US$40.14 a barrel, down 78 cents Bitcoin: US$10,512, down US$102. 6.45 am: Early Markets: Asia / Australia Markets in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and India are closed today for holidays. The other markets in Asia-Pacific mostly declined as oil crude futures dropped nearly 2.9% today on COVID-19 concerns after falling more than 3% on Thursday. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 shed 0.86% in afternoon trade while Australia’s the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.36%. Australia’s retail sales data for August fell 4% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to data from the country’s Bureau of Statistics. READ OUR ASX REPORT HERE Proactive Australia news: TNT Mines Ltd (ASX:TIN) has received high-grade assay results from underground exploration channel sampling at the 100%-owned East Canyon Uranium-Vanadium Project in south-eastern Utah, the US. Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:KZA) (NASDAQ:KZIA) has completed the institutional component of its accelerated 1 for 3 non-renounceable entitlement offer of new fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.80 per new share to raise A$16.4 million. Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU) (OTCMKTS:IUGNF) has received a Notice of Grant from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for Patent Application 16/292032, which protects its cancer growth factor immunotherapy platform. Alto Metals Ltd’s (ASX:AME) preliminary test-work of Lord Nelson primary zone mineralisation within the Sandstone Gold Project in WA has returned "excellent" average gold recoveries of 96%. Mako Gold Ltd (ASX:MKG) has appointed highly experienced mining executive Steve Zaninovich to the board as a non-executive director to support the restructure and evolution of the company. Oakdale Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) shares traded 35% higher yesterday to 2.8 cents after announcing the grant of an exploration licence EL 6505 in South Australia’s halloysite-kaolin hotspot on the Eyre Peninsula. Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) is entering a transformational joint venture agreement with Argentinian investment group Integra Capital S.A. which will spend up to A$1.4 million to earn a 50% interest in Latin’s Catamarca lithium pegmatite projects in Argentina. SenSen Networks Ltd (ASX:SNS) (OTCMKTS:SNNSF) achieved an important milestone last month of listing on the OTCQB venture market, which will enable US investors to easily participate in the company’s growth story. White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM) (OTCQX:WRMCF) shares are now trading on the US-based OTCQX Best Market, the highest market tier of OTC Markets on which 11,000 US and global securities trade. Theta Gold Mines Ltd (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) remains on track to begin gold production from its South African project with trial mining scheduled to begin this quarter.