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

  UK 100 called to open flat at 6740, after a rout in equity trading yesterday saw the UK 100 shed 85pts.

89 of UK 100 companies fell as the index registered its worst session in four months.

International Consolidated Air (IAG.L) descended by 7% after Air France KLM issued a profit warning - this followed a profit warning from German carrier Lufthansa just two weeks earlier -  prompting traders to parachute from the stock fearing the same fate could be forthcoming on 1st August when the UK flagship airline delivers its half year results.

easyJet (EZJ.L) also suffered a turbulent trading session, the stock fell 5.81% as traders flocked the sector. Shares in easyJet have now fallen 32% in just three months.

Banks did their bit to ensure the UK Index endured a torrid session. German counterpart, Commerzbank has begun settlement talks with federal authorities in the States, having breached sanctions by dealing with companies in Iran and Sudan. The outcome of the settlement will be scrutinised by those trading shares in Barclays, the UK bank currently at the centre of another US lawsuit. For some it was too much, traders closed out of banking positions fearing more was to come. Barclays (BARC.L) fell 1.09% on the day to 213.70p, Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) fell 2.30% to 73.37p and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) fell 2.94% to 320.20p.

Drug maker Shire (SHP.L) received a fourth bid from AbbVie, a cash and share offer worth 5115p. Shares shot to 4925p, up nearly 6% on the day, before sharply declining to finish 2.60% down, the City deeming the latest offer insufficient.

Do not forget, as Accendo Markets account holders, you have the option to 'short sell' - to profit from falling prices. For more information on this, please get in touch with your trader.

 Not surprisingly, U.S. markets suffered. Traders needed little prompting to cash out near record highs. The Dow Jones lost 117pts and the S&P 500 fell 0.7% to 1,963.

Alcoa provided some hope, the aluminium company unofficially kicked off earnings season, beating analysts' expectations to rise 1.3%.

 Asian stocks fell for a second day, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index on course for its largest decline in two months. The Shanghai Composite, ASX 200 and Hang Seng all fell more than 1%.

In commodities, gold advanced as equities declined and the dollar weakened, with traders seeking the precious metal as a safe haven. Gold climbed higher by 0.5% to trade at $1324 an ounce, still failing to break recent highs. WTI continues to test lowest levels in a month trading at $103.53 a barrel with crude inventories released later today. Brent fell by 1.2%, trading at $108.90 a barrel, the most since April 28^th to erase all gains made in June.

In FX the dollar remained lower ahead of the Fed minutes released tonight a 19:00pm, with all eyes focused on the time frame of a rate increase.

For any help you may require placing trades or in terms of market information, put a call in to our trading floor – all part of the service.

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

• CH                          PPI         WORSE
• CH                          CPI         WORSE

See Live Macro calendar for full details

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

• Centamin Q2 gold production rises sequentially
• Aviva says to double excess cashflow by end of 2016
• UK Mail Q1 group rev up 2.5 pct
• STV agrees reduced pension payment plan
• Thorntons sees FY profit in line with market view
• Alliance Pharma H1 rev 21.4 mln pounds
• Wholesaler Booker's first-quarter sales rise 3.8 pct
• Interserve updates on H1 trading