FTSE PREVIEW: Stocks fall as fears mount over U.S. debt deadlock

FTSE PREVIEW: Stocks fall as fears mount that U.S. debt deadlock will lead to default Last updated at 8:38 AM on 25th July 2011 The FTSE 100 index is seen opening lower as the U.S. government's failure so far to strike a deal on the national debt ceiling has left markets nervous about the prospect of the country defaulting on its debt.The blue chip index looks set to shed 40 to 45 points,according to financial bookmakers. It ended last week up 35.13 points at 5,935.02 on relief triggered by the European Union deal on a second Greek bailout.But there were declines overnight in Asian markets as the focus shifted firmly on to Washington's debt woes. A sharply divided Congress pursued rival budget plans on Sunday that appeared unlikely to win broad support, pushing the U.S. closer to its first ever major default.With time running out, Democrats and Republicans split into two camps and held talks amongst themselves. Both sides appeared unwilling to compromise to head off a default that could trigger <a href="http://www.trading666.com/others-t1-29.html"><strong>wholesale cheap newport cigarettes outlet</strong></a> global economic calamity and strip America of its coveted Triple-A credit rating. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the domestic <a href="http://www.trading666.com/others-brand-cigarettes-f2-66.html"><strong>wholesale newport box shorts cigarettes online </strong></a> economics front, second-quarter preliminary GDP figures, scheduled for release on Tuesday, will fall under the spotlight. No important UK economic data is due out today, but it is the start of a packed week on the UK corporate calendar. Monday sees the release of first-half results from Reckitt Benckiser , with highlights later in the week including second-quarter results from Britain's three biggest oil companies BP, BG Group and Royal Dutch Shell, and full-year results from BSkyB.Stocks to watch today include:Wolseley, Saint-Gobain: Saint-Gobain, the French building materials group, has emerged as the frontrunner to buy Wolseley's UK trade business, in a deal that would see a power shift among the UK's leading builders' merchants, the Financial Times reported.Lloyds Banking Group: Just two formal bids have been made for a collection of over 600 Lloyds Banking Group branches being sold by the British bank, the Sunday Times reported without citing sources.Virgin Money has not made a formal bid for the 630 Lloyds Banking Group branches, and now sees nationalised bank Northern Rock as a more realistic purchase option, the Financial Times said.Royal Bank of Scotland: Bank of China&nbsp; is a leading contender in the race to acquire the aircraft leasing business being sold off by RBS, the Sunday Times reported without citing sources.Banks: Banks are being flooded with thousands of customer complaints about payment protection insurance and are managing to settle only very few cases, according to industry sources, the Times said.BHP Billiton: A strike at the world's <a href="http://www.trading666.com/others-brand-cigarettes-f2-66.html"><strong>wholesale marlboro red cigarettes from china </strong></a> biggest copper mine, Chile's Escondida - majority-owned by BHP Billiton - entered a fourth day on Monday with no sign of a solution to the latest labour dispute fueling global supply fears. &nbsp; Standard Chartered: The chief of Standard Chartered's Korean unit said he hoped for a resolution this week to an ongoing labour dispute which has forced the bank to shut some branches and become the longest-running strike in the local banking sector.Reckitt Benckiser: The consumer goods company posts first-half results. National Grid: The energy network operator issues a trading update.&nbsp;&nbsp; Wolfson MicroElectronics: The chipmaker reports second-quarter results.&nbsp;&nbsp; WSP Group: The engineering consultancy posts first-half results.Hogg Robinson Group: The corporate travel company issues <a href="http://041823.com/view.php?id=25275"><strong>Pc Backpacks&amp;-58; select shape A big diversity – Computers ...</strong></a> a trading update.Amino Technologies: The company reports first-half results.Dialight: The LED lighting firm reports first-half results.Domino's Pizza: The pizza delivery firm reports first-half results.Eco Animal Health Group: The company reports full-year results.Filtronic: The mobile phone network equipment maker reports full-year results. HICL Infrastructure: The company holds its annual general meeting.&nbsp; Plastics Capital: The company holds its annual general meeting.Volex Group: The company holds its annual general meeting.Servision: The company holds its annual general meeting.Sepura: The company holds its annual general meeting.Sagentia Group: The company reports first-half results.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;