London pre-open: US-China trade talks, Barclays in the spotlight

(Sharecast News) - London's top flight index is being called to start the session just a tad higher, in what appears will be a calm start to the week, as investors ready themselves for another round of trade talks between the US and China.As of 0731 GMT, the Footsie was seen rising by five points to 7,241. In parallel, futures on the US S&P 500 were 1.5 points higher at 2,778.50.To take note of, at the weekend, and after being briefed by his top negotiators on the progress made in talks with Beijing, the US President reportedly said that they had been "very productive".In attendance at a meeting held at Trump's Mar a Lago residence, in Florida, on Saturday, were 10 top US administration officials, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and White House trade advisor, Peter Navarro.Talks between the two economic powers were set to continue over the course of the following week, in Washington DC.Back in the UK, property website Rightmove reported that UK house prices increased at a year-on-year pace of just 0.2% in February - their slowest clip since 2009 - and were up by 0.6% on the month.US markets were to remain closed on Monday, in observance of the Presidents' Day Holiday.No major economic releases were scheduled in the UK, nor across the Channel, on the Continent.Nonetheless, investors were taking note of further 'dovish' remarks out of top European Central Bank officials, with French Governing Council member, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, telling Spain's El Pais newspaper on Sunday that the slowdown observed thus far on the Continent had been "significant".Should slower growth not be "temporary" then the GC might shift its guidance on interest rates.Tiger Global has sold its entire stake in Barclays, the Financial Times reported. The US hedge fund, which at one point had amassed a 2.5% stake in the lender via swaps, finished unwinding its position at the start of 2019, people familiar with the situation told the newspaper.Coca-Cola HBC said it had bought Serbian confectionery business Bambi for €260m (£227m). The company said on Monday it had bought the company from funds advised by Mid Europa Partners, a buyout investor in Central and Eastern Europe. Completion of the acquisition is expected in the second quarter of 2019.Bambi, established in 1967, makes a range of products including biscuits, wafers and savoury snacks. The company's brands include Bambi, Plazma, Wellness, Zlatni Pek, and Josh.Reckitt Benckiser finished 2018 strongly with growth of 4% in the final quarter and the maker of consumer brands ranging from Dettol to Strepsils said it expects that momentum to continue into 2019. Net revenue of £12.6bn for the calendar year was a 10% improvement on the previous period, with adjusted net income up 11% to £2.4bn and adjusted earnings per share improving 7% to 339.9p.Pearson on Monday said it had sold its its US K12 courseware business to Nexus Capital Management for $250m (£193.6m). Total proceeds comprise an initial cash payment of $25m and an unconditional vendor note for $225m expected to be repaid in three to seven years. After repayment of the vendor note, Pearson would be entitled to 20% of all future cash flows to equity holders and 20% of net proceeds in the event the business is sold.