Markets Overview: (Source: Bloomberg, FT, Reuters, DJ Newswires)

The UK 100 Index is called to open higher by 15pts at 6850pts having closed unchanged yesterday.

A lack of conviction, both buying and selling, has seen the UK 100 trade within a 120pt range for three weeks. Reluctant to buy 'at the top' but also not wanting to sell in case the train departs without them, traders are content trade shallow ranges whilst patiently waiting for 'the bigger move' one way or the other.

Kingfisher (KGF.L) owner of B&Q and Screwfix, topped the UK 100 as shares rose 4.26% following the publication of the company's first half trading figures which exceeded expectations.

Another company that delivered a trading statement finished in second place. House builder Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) reported a full year profit double that of last year sending the shares higher by 2.81%.

Shares in WM Morrison (MRW.L) continued to recover after Tesco (TSCO.L) rocked the sector last week. Traders pushed the share price higher by 0.74% ahead of today's trading statement.

Standard Life (SL..L), Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN.L), Babcock International (BAB.L) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) all found themselves in negative territory for the day as the 'Yes Vote' for Scottish independence appeared to grow according to the latest poll. Shares fell as much as 1%.

This situation is only going to get more interesting the closer we get to voting on the 18th. Heavyweight companies including Standard Life (SL..L), Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) have been vocal in outlining contingency plans should Scotland secure independence - all three financial behemoths have suggested their headquarters would relocate to the UK.

Oil giants BP (BP..L) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB.L) have also joined in with support for the 'Vote No' campaign suggesting the future of the North Sea is better served together whilst questioning the longevity of the North Sea oil reserves - one of the focal points for SNP leader Alex Salmond's campaign.

On a lighter note, should Scotland leave the UK, the 'new' annual rainfall figures would fall by 21cm, making the 'new' UK a drier place!

ARM Holdings (ARM.L) fell 2.42% on the back of Apple's 'big reveal'. The US tech giant's new products were greeted with a tepid reception.

NEWS - A number of companies have reported trading updates this morning, please check our Movers and Shakers publication in the Breakfast Buffet email.

U.S. stocks rose, rebounding after two days of losses. The Dow Jones added 55pts to close at 17068pts. The S&P 500 index added 7.25 points to 1,996pts.

In Asian markets, Chinese stocks advanced as weaker- than-expected price data spurred speculation that the government will do more to boost growth. Australia’s dollar surged and bond yields climbed after a record jump in employment.

In commodities, gold remain steady at the $1250 level as equity market swung between gains and losses. Gold had fallen as low as $1243 as news emerged that Ukrainian President Poroshenko said Russia had withdrawn more than two-thirds of its troops.

WTI continued to fall to an eight-month low of $91.67 a barrel as US stockpiles fell less than analyst projected. Brent meanwhile dropped to its lowest levels since April 2013, down over 1% to finish at $98.04.

In FX the pound jumped from 10 month lows versus the dollar as the latest opinion poll showed fading support for Scotland’s bid for independence from the U.K. The dollar continued to trade at a 6 year high versus the yen.

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Key Overnight Macro Data: (Source: Reuters/DJ Newswires)

• CH          PPI                                         Worse
• CH          CPI                                         Worse
• AU          Unemployment Rate     Better

See Live Macro Calendar for full data line-up, incl. consensus expectations

UK Company Headlines: (Source: Reuters/DJ Newswires)

• Galliford Try awarded 100 mln stg worth of new contracts
• RBS says it will move to London if Scots vote for independence
• Morrisons first-half profit more than halves
• Next reiterates guidance as half-year profits jump 19 pct
• Lloyds will leave Scotland if it gets independence
• Home Retail Group says Argos like-for-like quarterly sales rise
• Dunelm Group FY total rev up 7.8 pct
• Darty Q1 total rev up 5.9 pct
• Ocado average order size down as competition rises
• RPC Group says to sell rigid sheet businesses in Italy, Belgium
• Independent News & Media CFO resigns
• Ashmore Group's pretax profit falls 34 pct
• President Energy says current production up 37 pct from Q1