Markets have turned a little lower again, with the mood deteriorating as the session wears on and traders prepare for a flurry of US data releases and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December meeting.

The FTSE 100 is 0.2% lower, the FTSE 250 is down by 0.5% and gilts are extending the falls seen yesterday. The pound remains marginally stronger, though still well below the $1.27 mark after the dollar’s bounce.