London pre-open: More gains expected

Footsie is expect to notch up more gains as it continues its strong run ahead of the Christmas break.The release of the minutes from the most recent meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will have the usual suspects poring over the statement searching for clues to future policy.Mining giant Rio Tinto has accepted a $2.025bn offer for its Alcan Packaging pharmaceutical, tobacco and food divisions from the packaging group Amcor as it continues its programme of asset sales to ease its debt pile.Support services contracting firm Balfour Beatty has won a facilities management contract from defence technology outfit QinetiQ. The seven year contract has a base-line value of £15m per annum, and will be supplemented with additional fees for non-core services.Tullow Oil has firmed its view on the potential of the West Cape Three Points block, offshore Ghana, after it latest test drill. The Mahogany Deep-2 well, drilled 3 km from Mahogany-3, was the furthest down-dip Jubilee well in the West Cape Three Points licence, Tullow said. Tullow Oil Balfour Beatty Rio Tinto Qinetiq