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

The UK 100 Index is set to open 14pts lower at 6819pts having fallen 20pts yesterday on uncertainty surrounding the Scottish 'Yes Vote' for independence.

As the latest poll showed momentum shifting toward Scotland leaving the United Kingdom, traders started to pull out of those companies linked to the country. Standard Life (SL..L), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), SSE (SSE.L) and Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN.L) were among the hardest hit down as much as 2.5%.

With nine days to go until the vote, traders are already adding stocks of this ilk to watch lists in case the slump continues only for there to be a 'No' vote.

Associated British Foods (ABF.L) finished the session at the bottom of the pile as its latest trading update exposed weaknesses in its sugar operations. Although this was offset by decent performance by the Primark brand, traders chose to focus on the negatives and punished the stock to the tune of 5.23%.

ARM Holdings (ARM.L) closed higher by 2.56%, the best performer, ahead of todays 'big reveal' by Apple. The US tech giant is expected to showcase a range of new products from iPhones to smart watches as well as new software - a new payment system and operating system.

Tesco (TSCO.L) continued its post profit warning fight back, climbing 1.93% to close at 232.90p.

BP (BP..L) added 0.41% and although a fractional increase, it ensured a close of 468.70p, above the key 465p level for technical traders.

US Markets failed to impress with shallow gains or losses registered across the board following Europe's lacklustre session. The Dow Jones closed lower by just 26pts at 17,111pts.

Asian stocks fell for a fourth day, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index headed for a three-week low influenced by trading in the West. There was reason to cheer for Japanese exporters as the US dollar climbed to a six-year high against the Yen sending the Nikkei and Topix higher as much as 0.3%.

In commodities, gold has so far declined by 5.4% this quarter as the outlook for higher borrowing cost reduced demand for an inflation hedge. Yesterday gold fell as low as $1251, its lowest since June 10th. Silver followed suit and fell below $19.00 to trade at three-month lows. Brent fell below $100 for the first time since June 2013 as falling Chinese imports increased fears of a slowdown.

WTI hit $92.66 a barrel the lowest levels since January 14th.

In FX, the pound slid to its weakest levels since November versus the dollar on continued fears on the Scottish independence vote next week. The dollar hit a six year high versus the yen as Treasury yields climbed on speculation of a rate increase by the Fed.

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

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

• AU          ANZ Weekly Consumer Confidence         Improved
• JP            Tertiary Industry Index                                  Worse
• AU          Home Loans                                                       Worse
• JP            Consumer Confidence Index                      Worse

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

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

•             Petra Diamonds recovers a 232 carat white diamond at Cullinan

•             Quindell PLC – Court judgement won against Gotham City Research

•             Dixons Carphone says Dixons Retail UK Q1 sales up 4 pct

•             Whitbread sales boosted by buoyant hotel market

•             Safecharge sees year results ahead of market expectations

•             Oxford Instruments says order intake underpins year view

•             Abcam full-year revenue rises

•             Galliford Try awarded 250 mln stg worth of contracts with Network Rail

•             RBS set to raise $4 bln from U.S. listing of Citizens