It's been a hectic start to the day with mostly favourable trading updates from the big hitters. Share prices look set to follow Wall Street's lead and open higher, with the FTSE 100 index expected to open up 47 points higher at 5,520.Mining giant Rio Tinto hailed 'another very strong quarter for iron ore production, driven by continuing high demand from China' as it published its fourth quarter operations review. The company is seeing recovery across most of its key commodities but remains cautious about the global economy going into 2010.Fresnillo saw quarterly silver production increase by 10% year on year and said it expects production to remain steady in 2010. The miner produced 9.36 million ounces of silver in the three month ended 31 December, though that is down 4% on the previous quarter.UK banking giant Barclays is to acquire the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) designated market maker assignments of New York based LaBranche for $25m in cash.Primark and British Sugar owner Associated British Foods had a better than anticipated end to 2009, and said it expects a 'significant increase' in operating profits in 2010. Group revenue in the 16 weeks to 2 January was 17% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year, or 11% on a constant currency basis.Home Retail thinks full-year profit will beat consensus estimates by £20m after a better than expected performance from the Argos business during the 18 weeks to 2 January. Argos reported a 3.9% hike in total sales to £1.9bn and 0.1% increase in like for like sales. DIY chain Homebase posted a 4.6% rise in total sales to £501m and 4% jump on a like for like basis, led by big ticket items like kitchens.Hovis to Branston Pickle maker Premier Foods said it expects to report encouraging branded sales growth of 6.4% and market share gains in its key branded categories for full year 2009. Sales in the fourth quarter were up by 1.5% on last year with branded sales up 7.0%.Electrical goods retailer DSG International said it was trading ahead of expectations in all markets as it posted an 8% increase in like-for-like sales for the 12 weeks to January 9.Music and book retailer HMV posted a fall in like-for-like sales over the Christmas period as its Waterstone’s book store underperformed, but the firm saw a rise in total sales as it benefited from the demise of rivals such as Zavvi.Baby products retailer Mothercare saw a 4.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to January 8 after a strong Christmas. Total sales were up by 4.6%, with the UK seeing a 2.5% rise, international sales up by 9.3% and home delivery division Mothercare Direct seeing a 19.5% jump.Automotive and leisure products retailer Halfords expects earnings for the full year to be towards the upper end of market forecasts but said it remains cautious about the wider economic outlook in the near term.