Stocks were registering moderate gains on Friday morning as fears over the Federal Reserve's eventual 'exit strategy' from stimulus were eased overnight.Wall Street benchmarks rose strongly on Thursday on expectations that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will attempt to calm markets by pushing back predictions for the first interest-rate rise. While some investors have been bringing this date forward as economic data has continued to improve over recent weeks, a report last night in The Wall Street Journal by prominent 'Fed-watcher' Jon Hilsenrath suggested that the bank is likely to calm fears over an eventual tapering of asset purchases by saying that an adjustment in quantitative easing (QE) won't mean that stimulus will end all at once.Market Strategist Ishaq Siddiqi from ETX Capital said that Hilsenrath "carries clout in the market so his report eased some concerns over a surprise imminent withdrawal of QE but it's unlikely these fears will dissipate until clear guidance is given by the Fed."Siddiqi added: "Markets are keenly awaiting next Wednesday Fed meeting as such, hopeful that the Federal Open Market Committee will take a dovish stance on policy measures and downplay recent fears about the prospects of illiquid markets in the forthcoming months."Meanwhile, Asian markets were also helped higher overnight by the minutes of the later Bank of Japan policy meeting, in which a few policymakers suggested that the central bank could take more action if needed following the aggressive easing programme initiated in April."The current framework didn't rule out the possibility of necessary adjustments, and therefore, flexibility is sufficiently ensured," a few members said at the May 21-22nd meeting. Miners provide a lift early onCorporate news was thin on the ground this morning though mining stocks were performing well early on with Rio Tinto, EVRAZ and Antofagasta among the high risers on the FTSE 100. Newly merged resources conglomerate Glencore Xstrata was seemingly the only blue chip to release a statement today, announcing that it has signed revolving credit facility worth $17.34bn to support general corporate activity. Shares gained strongly from the off.Real estate giants Land Securities, British Land and Hammerson were also among the best performers in morning trade.RBS will likely continue to be in focus today as markets continue to digest the surprise departure of Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hester, as well as the lender's announcement yesterday to cut 2,000 further investment-banking jobs. Among the rumoured potential successors for Hester's position is Lloyds Deputy Chairman Philip Hampton. After a heavy fall yesterday, RBS was flat this morning with a downgrade from Deutsche Bank to 'sell' limiting any potential rebound.In contrast, power systems firm Rolls-Royce was making gains after Investec upgraded the stock from 'add' to 'buy', saying that the group's profitability is on an "upwards trajectory". IP Group, the AIM-listed developer of intellectual property-based businesses, fell after saying that its Chief Operating Officer is to step down from the board at the end of the month for health reasons.Africa-focused budget airline Fastjet rose strongly after winning the right to fly its first-ever international routes across the continent. The company has been given government permission to begin flying from Tanzania to South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda.FTSE 100 - RisersLand Securities Group (LAND) 908.50p +2.25%British Land Co (BLND) 596.00p +2.14%Aggreko (AGK) 1,720.00p +2.14%GKN (GKN) 305.70p +2.07%Rio Tinto (RIO) 2,814.50p +1.99%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 62.50p +1.92%Hammerson (HMSO) 506.00p +1.91%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 834.50p +1.89%ARM Holdings (ARM) 872.00p +1.75%Glencore Xstrata (GLEN) 311.25p +1.68%FTSE 100 - FallersSmith & Nephew (SN.) 749.50p -0.93%Polymetal International (POLY) 635.00p -0.63%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,450.50p -0.51%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,029.00p -0.39%HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 687.90p -0.36%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,348.00p -0.30%BG Group (BG.) 1,190.50p -0.21%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,081.00p -0.18%GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,678.50p -0.15%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,179.00p -0.11%FTSE 250 - RisersNew World Resources A Shares (NWR) 93.10p +7.63%Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 307.20p +5.46%888 Holdings (888) 148.50p +4.87%Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 550.00p +4.27%Unite Group (UTG) 348.00p +3.85%Homeserve (HSV) 279.30p +3.52%Big Yellow Group (BYG) 381.20p +3.50%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 309.50p +3.37%Regus (RGU) 159.00p +3.31%Menzies(John) (MNZS) 709.50p +3.20%FTSE 250 - FallersDechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 698.00p -0.99%JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust (JMG) 551.50p -0.81%BH Macro Ltd. GBP Shares (BHMG) 2,154.00p -0.74%Synthomer (SYNT) 192.00p -0.62%Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 212.90p -0.51%PayPoint (PAY) 995.00p -0.50%Perform Group (PER) 552.50p -0.45%Vesuvius (VSVS) 375.00p -0.40%IP Group (IPO) 138.00p -0.36%Carpetright (CPR) 590.50p -0.34%
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