LONDON (Reuters) - FTSE 100 <.FTSE> is expected to open up 31 points, or 0.6 percent higher on Friday according to financial bookmakers, rebounding from the previous session's losses with stronger commodity prices seen supporting resource-related shares.
The blue-chip index closed 74.43 points lower, or down 1.4 percent, at 5,267.70 on Thursday in the third straight session of losses. The index is down 0.5 percent so far this week, on track for the first weekly fall in three weeks.
Mining firms on the index are expected to benefit from stronger metals prices, while a rise in crude oil prices towards $78 a barrel is expected to lift energy firms.
Weakness on Wall Street overnight and in Asia are seen capping some gains on the FTSE 100. Trading is expected to be subdued with no UK economic data is set for release and a lack of major companies reporting.
Across the Atlantic data to be released include the Economic Cycle Research Institute's Weekly Leading Index, a measure of future U.S. growth, due at 3:30 p.m..
FULLER SMITH & TURNER
The pub group reports first-half results.
(Reporting by Harpreet Bhal)
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