The petrochemicals sector looks set to remain squarely in focus as trading in 2006 gets under way.

252

With the rate verdict due later, there's a cautious mood creeping into equity markets as although a 25-basis-point hike is widely expected, there's little consensus as to just how long the aggressive stance over interest rates will now continue for.

183

There's some concern that although inflationary pressures do appear to have receded in recent days, higher fuel prices could reignite worries here and this in turn has the potential to weigh on stocks across the board.

175

Crude is back above $61 a barrel -- something that will buoy the likes of Shell and BP -- and in turn give the FTSE some support in early trade, but once again the implications this news has on industry as a whole may yet weigh on broader stocks in the days ahead.

167

Continuing takeover speculation on a host of companies may see another near term rally in equity markets.

161

The airline themselves aren't actually even coming out with any ideas of how much the strike is going to hurt them on top of the increase in oil prices so we're not actually making any call on price at the moment but it will be down and I would say quite heftily.

151

Whether the FTSE can break through the key 5,800 barrier remains to be seen but there's little fundamental data around just now that could support an extended rally.

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