Next Share News (NXT)

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 14 points from yesterday's close of 5,850, as investors await the re-opening of trade in the US after two days of unexpected closure in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Nevertheless, and as the Chief Executive Officer of NYSE-Euronext commented last night, it would not be realistic to expect normal trading conditions. Investors will no doubt look to the reaction in the US towards the devastation and destruction the hurricane has caused on the east coast of the country. This follows a strong day of trading in London on Tuesday, boosted by better-than-expected results from BP. Economic announcements on the cards today include Chicago PMI, German retail sales, EU international reserves and US crude oil inventories. No data is scheduled for release in the UK, although Bank of England Deputy Governor Charles Bean is due to give a speech at 18:00 in Hull.In company news, life assurance company Standard Life said inflows across its long-term savings businesses plus a strong performance at Standard Life Investments have helped to increase both group assets under administration (AuM) and Standard Life Investments third party assets to record levels. Group assets under administration at the end of September stood at £211.9bn, up from £198.4bn at the end of 2011 and £204.2bn at the end of June 2012. High Street fashion and homewares retailer Next said that its sales performance was 'volatile' in the third quarter with stronger sales in late September and early October offsetting an unusually quiet start to August. The group had already flagged in its interim results that sales at the start of the third quarter had been "disappointing".The deadline for the conclusion of merger talks between soft drinks makers AG Barr and Britvic has been extended again. The Takeover Panel has consented to an extension of this deadline until 17:00 on November 28th 2012.