FTSE 100 to start on the front foot amid optimism following Fed minutes

6.30am: FTSE 100 to start on the front foot  FTSE 100 is expected build on Wednesday’s gains at open amid an optimistic environment. London’s leading index is called 22 points higher at 6,907 on Thursday at the opening bell. “The minutes from the March meeting showed that while Fed officials seemed happy with the direction of travel of the US economy, they wanted to see much clearer evidence of further progress before dialling back on the stimulus button. This adherence to what the Fed now calls “outcome-based guidance” is all part and parcel of the US central bank’s new policy of not reacting to perceptions of a direction of travel, but waiting until both goals of higher inflation and full employment has been achieved,” said Michael Hewson at CMC Markets. “While this is all well and good for now with US 10-year yields retreating from their recent highs it should be remembered that last night’s minutes came before last week’s bumper payrolls report and very positive ISM updates. These reports bode well for further strength in the second quarter, and while the Fed wants to give the impression of a central bank that is prepared to be patient, waiting too long also presents dangers.” Back to the UK, construction PMI for March are scheduled to come out on Thursday, with consensus expecting the figure to rise to 55 from 53.3 in February. 6.50am: Early Markets - Asia / Australia Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region were mostly higher on Thursday after the S&P 500 hit a record closing high overnight in the US. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong gained 0.95% and the Shanghai Composite in China rose 0.22%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.17% while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.14%. Shares in Australia advanced, with the S&P/ASX 200 trading 0.95% higher. READ OUR ASX REPORT HERE Proactive Australia news: Twenty Seven Co Ltd’s (ASX:TSC) (FRA:U9V) shares gained 33% after assays delivered up to 23 g/t gold and 33 g/t silver at Mt Dimer. Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (NASDAQ:PLL) (OTCMKTS:PDDTF) has increased the global mineral resources estimate for its flagship Piedmont Lithium Project in North Carolina, USA, to 39.2 million tonnes at 1.09% lithium oxide. Theta Gold Mines Ltd (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) is trading higher after delivering a maiden underground mining reserve for the high-grade TGME Underground Project in South Africa - 490,000 ounces of gold at 5.49 g/t gold. Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (OTCMKTS:ARRXF) (FRA:38A) has begun developing biochip components that are less than 10 nanometres in size - for reference, the average human hair is around 75,000 nanometres wide. Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) (OTCMKTS:MGVMF) (FRA:6MU) has extended the Big Sky high-grade anomaly target at Cue Gold Project to more than 1.2 kilometres in recent aircore drilling. Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) substantial holder DGO Gold Ltd (ASX:DGO) has increased its stake in the company to 14.26% from 8.69%. Alchemy Resources Ltd (ASX:ALY) (FRA:45A) has outlined an aggressive drill program at its fully-owned Karonie Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields, with 20,000 metres to be drilled. Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) is on track to become West Africa’s next gold miner after delivering a "compelling" pre-feasibility (PFS) study for its flagship Abujar Gold Project in Cote d’Ivoire. Westar Resources Ltd (ASX:WSR) has completed an 11,038-metre aircore drilling program at the Coolaloo Gold Project near Mt Magnet in Western Australia testing high-priority targets, with samples submitted to a laboratory in Perth.