London pre-open: Slight declines ahead of July data

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down two points from yesterday's close of 5,635, edging slightly lower over concerns relating to recent reports which revealed a slowdown of manufacturing in Asia. Investors are also likely to exercise caution ahead of economic announcements out today, which include UK PMI manufacturing, as well as a wealth of data out on the international scene. The data calendar for today Stateside includes the ADP payrolls report and the latest ISM manufacturing sector survey results. The results of the Federal Open Market Committee´s meeting will also be closely watched.The HSBC Chinese purchasing manager´s index for the month of July has fallen slightly, to 50.1 points from 50.2 in the month before (Consensus: 50.4). Back in the UK, shop prices fell to a 1% year-on-year pace during the past month of July, to a two and a half year low, the BRC has said. UK house prices fell by 0.7% month-on-month in July, according to the latest survey data out from Nationwide. Standard Chartered, the bank focused on emerging markets, notched up a record first half profit for the tenth successive year. Profit before tax for the six months to the end of June was up 9% to $3,636m from $3,139m the year before. The interim dividend has been bumped by 10% to 27.23 cents a share.Drinks company Rexam posted a three per cent like-for-like rise in sales during the first half of the year, pushed higher by a six per cent increase in the total number of beverage cans volumes. Revenue for the year came in at £2,165m, compared to £2,095m the same half the previous year, with underlying pre-tax profit at £207m (H1 2011: £204m) prompting an increase in the interim dividend per share to 5p from 4.7p. The firm said: "Beverage Cans traded well with the global growth of specialty cans and the performance of the North American business overcoming cost headwinds. As indicated previously, we had some specific challenges in Healthcare."House builder Taylor Wimpey said it has seen an improvement across the business in the last six months as it focuses on margin growth and as trading conditions in the housing market stabilise.