London shares outlook - weak after Wall St retreat; British Land, Home Retail H1.

(From AFX Europe (Focus))

LONDON (AFX) - Leading shares are seen opening lower following Wall Street's retreat to close mixed overnight and ahead of tomorrow's BoE minutes, while investors should be kept busy with figures from British Land and Home Retail Group among others, dealers said.

According to spread-bettors IG Index, the FTSE 100 index is seen opening around 6.2 points weaker at 6,196.6-6,202.6 after closing 12.5 points ahead at 6,204.5 yesterday.

Overnight on Wall Street, US stocks ended mixed Monday, putting an end to the Dow's recent run as markets wind down for the Thanksgiving holiday.

However, a wave of merger-and-acquisition activity, including Freeport-McMoRan agreeing to buy Phelps Dodge for 26 bln usd and The Blackstone Group offering 20 bln usd for Sam Zell's Equity Office Trust provided a fillip for some stocks.

The DJIA closed 26.10 points lighter at 12,316.50, while the S&P 500 index was 0.70 points easier at 1,400.50 …