FTSE eyes lower open

The FTSE 100 is seen down between three and 17 points on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, after the index closed up 43.2 points at 6,229.8 on Wednesday. Corporate results and interest rate concerns look set to focus attention, traders say.

"The markets are set to be dominated by the all-important CPI data from the US today," said Martin Slaney of GFT Global Markets, adding that uncertainty about U.S. interest rates could cap gains in the short-term after a slightly hawkish tone emerged from the minutes of the Federal Reserve's last meeting.

Domestic interest rate concerns could weigh on the market after houses prices rose at their quickest pace in more than four years in the third quarter, despite rising borrowing costs.

"Traders will be wondering how high rates need to go to take some wind out of the housing market's sails," said GFT's Slaney.

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