London open: Upside limited as markets await 'risk events'

- Investors cautious ahead of busy end to the week- Barrage of economic data on tap for Wednesday- Experian drops after acquisition, H1 reporttechMARK 2,655.82 +0.32%FTSE 100 6,749.23 +0.04%FTSE 250 15,427.39 +0.39%UK markets edged higher on Wednesday morning though the upside was limited as investors adopted a cautious approach ahead of a number of key 'risk events' scheduled for later in the week.The focus is now turning to the European Central Bank policy meeting on Thursday with many expecting a reduction in its benchmark interest rate. Market Analyst Craig Erlam from Alpari said that "it's not unusual for investors to play it safe [...] when expectations of a rate cut from the central bank are high".Also on Thursday will be the initial estimate of third-quarter US economic growth, while investors will keep their eyes peeled for the all-important jobs report in the States on Friday.As for Wednesday, there will still be plenty of economic data for investors to digest, including industrial and manufacturing production figures in the UK, Eurozone retail sales and services data, German factory orders and US mortgage applications.Experian drops sharply after acquisition, H1 reportCredit-checking and information services firm Experian was a heavy faller this morning as investors gave a cool reaction to the acquisition of Passport Health Communications for $850m and its first-half results. The company experienced "subdued trading conditions" in some emerging markets but still managed to produce double-digit growth in earnings, it said.easyJet gained after reporting a 5.4% rise in October passenger numbers, along with a 0.7 percentage point increase in its load factor. Rival airline IAG also gained as the sector rebounded following a profit warning from Ryanair earlier in the week.Whitbread and BP were trading lower after going ex-dividend today, meaning that from today new investors won't be able to get hold of the companies' latest payouts.Engineering and aerospace group Meggitt was in demand after Cantor Fitzgerald raised its rating on the stock to 'buy' and lifted its target price from 520p to 590p.Insurance company Lancashire was lower after seeing profits fall by 67% in the third quarter as a quiet wind season in the US was outweighed by losses from hail storms and floods in Europe.Sector peer RSA Insurance was still in the red following its gloomy third-quarter trading update yesterday which sent the stock tumbling. Meanwhile, earnings guidance for the full year was lifted by a bullish Moneysupermarket.com Group after a "very strong" start to the fourth quarter boosted by energy-switching customers irked by utility price hikes. The stock jumped by 14% in morning trade.FTSE 100 - RisersAssociated British Foods (ABF) 2,291.00p +3.76%easyJet (EZJ) 1,232.00p +2.41%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 353.10p +2.32%Meggitt (MGGT) 503.00p +1.93%ITV (ITV) 194.40p +1.78%Schroders (SDR) 2,620.00p +1.75%CRH (CRH) 1,565.00p +1.56%Barclays (BARC) 252.80p +1.53%London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 1,630.00p +1.18%TUI Travel (TT.) 379.50p +1.17%FTSE 100 - FallersExperian (EXPN) 1,182.00p -6.41%Mondi (MNDI) 1,089.00p -2.42%Unilever (ULVR) 2,488.00p -1.85%Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,794.00p -1.54%National Grid (NG.) 778.00p -1.27%Amec (AMEC) 1,192.00p -1.24%Centrica (CNA) 353.90p -1.15%Antofagasta (ANTO) 879.00p -1.12%Weir Group (WEIR) 2,165.00p -1.05%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 504.00p -0.98%FTSE 250 - RisersMoneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 176.30p +13.74%Michael Page International (MPI) 484.40p +2.39%3i Group (III) 379.00p +2.10%Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 593.00p +2.07%WH Smith (SMWH) 946.00p +1.94%DCC (DCC) 2,853.00p +1.93%Rank Group (RNK) 150.00p +1.90%Man Group (EMG) 87.95p +1.79%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 120.00p +1.69%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 194.30p +1.67%FTSE 250 - FallersDialight (DIA) 1,048.00p -1.96%Cranswick (CWK) 1,091.00p -1.62%Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 1,574.00p -1.62%CSR (CSR) 510.00p -1.54%Evraz (EVR) 119.80p -1.48%KCOM Group (KCOM) 100.60p -1.47%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 105.00p -1.41%Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 807.50p -1.40%Centamin (DI) (CEY) 50.20p -1.18%Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 2,241.00p -1.15%BC