- Second estimate of Q3 UK GDP due for release- Plenty of economic data from the States- Ex-dividend stocks limit gains in LondontechMARK 2,654.69 +0.19%FTSE 100 6,649.71 +0.20%FTSE 250 15,370.31 +0.42%UK markets edged higher on Wednesday morning despite some ex-dividend stocks capping gains on the FTSE 100, as markets awaited data predicted to show a small acceleration in UK economic growth in the third quarter.Today's focus will be on the second estimate of UK gross domestic product (GDP) for the three months through September, which is expected to confirm that the economy expanded by 0.8%, compared with the 0.7% growth recorded in the second quarter. The figures are due out at 09:30 in London."This is still a very strong figure for the UK and confirms it as one of the fastest growing Western economies," said Market Analyst Craig Erlam from Alpari.However, he highlighted that the data is likely to show that momentum has slowed, with 0.8% growth representing only a slight pick-up from the preceding quarter."It will now be a big test for the UK to maintain these growth rates and set itself on course for a sustainable recovery, even when the eurozone is stagnating and the US constantly tripping itself up," Erlam said.Economic data on the other side of the Pond will also be closely watched this afternoon, with reports on durable goods orders, mortgage applications, initial jobless claims, manufacturing and University of Michigan confidence all due out. United Utilities, Compass gain after resultsWater group United Utilities rose after saying it will be discounting bills next year as it reported a 9% rise in underlying operating profits in the first half. The company is discounting bills by £20m for customers, offsetting the allowed price increases for 2014/15, meaning that bills will go up by no more than inflation.Sector peers Centrica, National Grid and Severn Trent were also in demand this morning.Compass, the world's largest catering group, was also higher after reporting full-year revenue growth of 4.3%, driven by strong performances in North America and Fast Growing & Emerging.AMEC was a heavy faller today after going ex-dividend, meaning that from today investors will no longer qualify for the engineering firm's latest payout. Others in the FTSE 350 including Johnson Matthey, Vedanta Resources, Lancashire Holdings, 3i Infrastructure, UDG Healthcare, Telecom Plus and Dunelm also went ex-div this morning.Banknote printer De La Rue was in the red this morning, pulling back after a strong rise the day before after its first-half report. The stock was being weighed down this morning by Citigroup which downgraded its rating from 'buy' to 'hold'.Ophir Energy edged higher after saying it has begun test drilling at its Mlinzi Mbali-1 well in its Block 7 offshore Tanzania. The 80%-owned block is estimated to contain prospective resources of roughly 10trn cubic feet (TCF) of oil.FTSE 100 - RisersCompass Group (CPG) 945.50p +2.05%United Utilities Group (UU.) 668.00p +1.67%Centrica (CNA) 340.90p +1.28%Aviva (AV.) 430.20p +1.25%ITV (ITV) 188.80p +1.07%Sports Direct International (SPD) 715.00p +1.06%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 332.80p +0.88%Mondi (MNDI) 999.50p +0.86%WPP (WPP) 1,358.00p +0.82%British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSY) 823.00p +0.73%FTSE 100 - FallersAmec (AMEC) 1,145.00p -2.14%Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,301.00p -0.76%Bunzl (BNZL) 1,386.00p -0.72%Wolseley (WOS) 3,328.00p -0.63%Tesco (TSCO) 343.20p -0.62%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,231.00p -0.57%Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,203.00p -0.53%Antofagasta (ANTO) 775.00p -0.51%ARM Holdings (ARM) 998.00p -0.50%Whitbread (WTB) 3,526.00p -0.45%FTSE 250 - RisersNMC Health (NMC) 422.00p +10.91%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 134.30p +5.75%Electra Private Equity (ELTA) 2,367.00p +2.91%Centamin (DI) (CEY) 43.84p +2.81%Shaftesbury (SHB) 629.50p +2.36%BTG (BTG) 534.00p +2.30%African Barrick Gold (ABG) 167.80p +2.01%Essar Energy (ESSR) 84.60p +1.93%Essentra (ESNT) 808.00p +1.76%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 18.80p +1.68%FTSE 250 - FallersDe La Rue (DLAR) 873.50p -4.64%Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 795.00p -3.05%Dunelm Group (DNLM) 863.50p -2.43%3i Infrastructure (3IN) 127.10p -2.38%UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 305.40p -2.30%Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,888.00p -2.13%Mitie Group (MTO) 308.40p -1.85%Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 4,194.00p -1.53%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 127.60p -0.78%Stagecoach Group (SGC) 357.30p -0.67%BC
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