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LONDON (Alliance News) - Stock prices in London are set to open in the red Wednesday, despite optimism over China's economy, in a busy day for UK corporate news.BHP Group has lowered 2019 iron ore guidance, while Bunzl reported a slowdown in organic growth though SEGRO had a solid first quarter.In the FTSE 250, Mediclinic painted a mixed picture for its Swiss business Hirslanden, but Hunting is positive after a good start to 2019. IG futures indicate the FTSE 100 index is to open 8.5 points lower at 7,461.42. The blue-chip index closed 0.4% higher at 7,469.92 on Tuesday. China's economy grew 6.4% in the first quarter of 2019, holding steady from the last quarter of 2018, official data showed Wednesday.The data beat analysts' expectations of a 6.3% growth in the first quarter. Financial indicators in March had suggested the government's efforts to shore up the slowing economy were starting to take hold.Exports jumped 14.2% year-on-year in March, after a serious contraction in February.China's economy grew 6.6% last year - its slowest pace in almost three decades - due to pressure from a trade war with the US and rising government debt.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last month set a 6% to 6.5% economic growth target for 2019, citing "rising uncertainties" facing the world's second-largest economy.London Capital Group's Jasper Lawler commented: "The better than forecast figures show policymakers in China managed to sustain growth in the clearest indication yet that pro-growth policies such as tax cuts, implemented by Beijing are working."The Japanese Nikkei 225 index ended up 0.3%. In China, the Shanghai Composite is 0.1% lower, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong is 0.1% higher.In the economic calendar locally on Wednesday, UK producer prices and consumer prices figures are delivered at 0930 BST.Ahead of the inflation data, the pound was quoted at USD1.3056, up from USD1.3050 late Tuesday.In early UK corporate news, miner BHP Group has reduced annual iron ore production guidance after a cyclone affected its operations, as it reported third-quarter production results.For the nine months ended March, iron ore production remained flat at 175 million tonnes. Copper production fell 3% to 1.25 million tonnes. In coal, metallurgical coal and energy coal production both remained unchanged at 31 million tonnes and 20 million tonnes, respectively.BHP reduced its iron ore guidance for 2019 to between 235 million tonnes and 239 million tonnes from between 241 and 250 million tonnes previously. This was after the firm was forced to reduce output forecast following the disruption caused by Cyclone Veronica in March. In financial 2018, iron ore production was 238.4 million tonnes.Also in the FTSE 100, distribution firm Bunzl reported a 4% rise in first-quarter revenue, though the figure climbed 2.5% excluding foreign exchange movements. Underlying growth was 1.5%. "Mixed" macroeconomic conditions led to the slowdown in underlying growth, Bunzl said, in particular in North America, which grew 1% for the quarter. Underlying growth in Continental Europe, the UK & Ireland, and Rest of the World combined was 2%. Bunzl also announced it is buying Netherlands-based specialist packaging firm Coolpack for an undisclosed sum. Coolpack had revenue of EUR4 million in 2018. Packaging peer DS Smith has sold two business, one in France and one in Portugal, to International Paper for around GBP54 million, as part of a promise to the European Commission regarding its own acquisition of Europac in January. FTSE 100 property developer SEGRO reported a solid first quarter performance, with GBP21.2 million of new headline rent secured, though down from GBP27.3 million year-on-year.Vacancies have fallen to 4.4% from 5.2%, Segro said, while on the investment front Segro continues to expect investment in developments to exceed GBP600 million in 2019. In the midcaps, Countryside Properties is on track to meet expectations for its year ending September. In the first half ended March, Countryside's completions rose 43% year-on-year to 2,362 homes, though the average selling price did dip 4%. Reservations are at the top end of its target range, Countryside said, while its forward order book is strong and has 49% higher than it was a year prior, standing at GBP1.04 billion. Net debt is also "better than expected". Countryside also said Chief Operating Officer Becky Worthington has departed, with no information over a succession plan provided.Hospital operator Mediclinic International said its Swiss unit Hirslanden has met full-year expectations in the 12 months to March, with revenue in the business rising 2.5% from GBP558.7 million. Inpatient admissions for Hirslanden rose 3.8%, but revenue per admission dipped 2.2%, and Mediclinic said the performance reflects clinical treatments migrating to outpatient rather than inpatient tariffs. Hirslanden's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation margin declined to 16.0% from 18.3%, Mediclinic said, as expected. Looking ahead, the unit can expect "modest" revenue growth in Mediclinic's new year ending March 2020, with the outpatient migration programme to continue. It has guided for an Ebitda margin of around 15%. Elsewhere, South African revenue rose 5% year-on-year, while in the Middle East it climbed 7%.Medicilinic group revenue rose 3.5% constant currency, but Ebitda has fallen 1.5%.Energy services firm Hunting has started 2019 well, it said, with underlying Ebitda in the first three months of 2019 around USD35.0 million, in line with targets. Overall, revenue and profit growth registered in the last quarter of 2018 has continued. Hunting Titan has growth revenue in the first quarter of 2019 on the prior three months, but margins have fallen due to increased competition. The US and Asia-Pacific have beaten expectations, Hunting said, but Canada's volumes and margins have been hit by "extremely cold weather" during the first three months of 2019. Hunting is positive on the outlook for 2019, due in part to a higher oil price leading to an uptick in activity in the sector. Wealth manager Quilter reported a GBP500 million net client cash flow for the first quarter of 2019, though including its Life Assurance arm the figure was a negative GBP200 million. In the first quarter of 2018, Quilter had a NCCF of GBP2.0 billion, excluding Life Assurance, and GBP1.6 billion including the business. Quilter's net flows were GBP600 million for the quarter, down from GBP1.5 billion year-on-year.Assets under management as of the end of March have risen 5.1% since the end of December, to GBP114.9 billion. Quilter said cash slows from clients have continued to be affected by difficult markets, but it is confident nevertheless. Telecom Plus said adjusted pretax profit for its year ended March will be towards the bottom of previous guidance at around GBP56 million from GBP54.3 million a year ago, hit by a warm winter and the energy tariff cap. Telecom Plus is encouraged by the profit outlook for its new financial year, and has guided for an adjusted pretax profit of between GBP60 million and GBP65 million for 2020 financial year, with its dividend set to rise 10% to 57 pence a share. For its recently ended year, Telecom Plus will be paying a dividend of 52p, up 4% year-on-year. Customer numbers rose 4.0%, however, from 0.5% the prior year, with service numbers growth accelerating to 8.2% from 2.3% year-on-year. In the US on Tuesday, Wall Street ended higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 0.3%, the S&P 500 0.1% higher, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.3%.Online-video streaming service Netflix on Tuesday reported a first-quarter profit that rose from last year, as subscriber additions surged.Earnings for the quarter trumped Wall Street estimates, as did revenue. However, moving ahead, Netflix detailed a weak second-quarter guidance.Netflix added 9.60 million subscribers globally in the quarter, above its forecast of 8.90 million, to end the quarter with 148.86 million subscribers. The company added 1.74 million customers in the US during the quarter, above its estimates of 1.60 million. Netflix's first-quarter profit rose to USD344 million, or USD0.76 per share, from USD290 million, or USD0.64 per share, last year. On average, 36 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of USD0.57 per share for the quarter.Netflix's revenue for the quarter rose 22% to USD4.52 billion from USD3.70 billion last year. Analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of USD4.50 billion for the quarter.Looking forward to the second quarter, Netflix expects revenue of USD4.93 billion and earnings of USD0.55 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters currently expect earnings of USD0.99 per share and revenues of USD4.95 billion.Elsewhere the data calendar Wednesday, eurozone current account data is released at 0900 BST with trade balance and consumer price index figures at 1000 BST.In the US, trade balance data is printed at 1330 BST after mortgage applications figures are released at 1200 BST.