0830: UK stocks have begun the day comfortably higher. Tesco is leading the pack on the top share index on news that it will conduct a strategic review of its US business. Yet as a group miners are again strongest. Although the latest Chinese services PMI data has come out a tad weaker than last month investors opted to take their cue from Chinese authorities, who this morning said that they will promote domestic demand and urbanisation. Meantime, and in the US, the latest news regarding the fiscal cliff has President Obama issuing an ultimatum to Republicans. There will be no deal unless rates go up for the highest earners he told Bloomberg. At 09:28 Markit will release the services PMI survey for November. Barclays expects the headline business activity index to pick up slightly to 51.5 (consensus 51.0), from 50.6. It believes that October’s index overstated the degree of weakness in activity. At 12:30 Chancellor Osborne delivers the 2012 Autumn Statement. FTSE 100 up 27 to 5,896.