Markets flat ahead of US non-farm payroll data

On what looks likely to be a quiet day for UK corporate news, traders are focused on the US where September's non-farm payrolls numbers are due to be released this afternoon.

The FTSE 100 opened at 5,662, sliding 0.02%, while the FTSE All Share fell 3.56 points or 0.12% in early trading. Expectations are for a 5,000 increase in non-farm payrolls in the US, while the unemployment rate is expected to nudge up to 9.7% from 9.6% in August. Until those numbers are confirmed, however, traders seem inclined to sit on their hands. Holiday company Thomas Cook and the Co-operative Group are merging their high street travel agents and foreign exchange businesses. Today's move creates Britain's largest high street travel network with over 1,200 shops - 803 Thomas C...