Mr Streeting did not insult fellow Labour parliamentary candidate Diane Abbott during an appearance on the BBC.
Asian shares retreated on Tuesday after a report showed that U.S. manufacturing contracted in May, in the latest sign the economy is slowing. Oil prices fell and U.S. futures edged higher. India's Sensex led the region's losses, plunging 4.1% to 73496.24 as the vote count for the country's six-week-long national election appeared to show a lower than expected seat count for incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, although his National Democratic Alliance was comfortably leading its close
GSK shares are today’s major focus after the drugs giant’s defence against Zantac claims suffered a setback in a Delaware court. The FTSE 100 index is trading higher after Friday’s late rally by Wall Street markets was further boosted by this week’s prospect of an ECB interest rate cut. Other companies in the spotlight today include FTSE 250-listed Hollywood Bowl, having posted an 11% rise in half-year profits.