Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow was up 19.59 points at 13,778.65, while the S&P500
slipped 0.51 points at 1,517.22 and the Nasdaq Composite was ahead 15.5 points
at 2,683.45.

See you in the morning with the latest......

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

Telegraph
The Times
The Times (Need to know)
FT
The Guardian
The Independent
This is Money

Seven of the worlds leading credit-ratings agencies have fallen under the regulatory auspices of the US Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the clampdown on the sector.

SEC reveals clampdown on ratings agencies

Consumer confidence slumped to the lowest level in almost two years and home prices scored their worst performance in 16 years, threatening US household spending, spurring talk of recession and prompting calls for the Federal Reserve to keep cutting interest rates. The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence fell more than forecast in September, to 99.8 from 105.6.

Steepest fall in US house prices in 16 years fuels fears of recession

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - The Hong Kong stock market's benchmark Hang Seng index is expected to rise to at least 28,000 points and may even hit 35,000 next year, UBS (NYSE:UBS) said. UBS said in a report that 39 of the 40 Hang Seng Index component stocks have announced their latest results and most have surprised on the upside.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index may rise to 35,000 points next year - UBS
China may be conducting stealth attack on Hong Kongs exchange

NIKKEI	AUSTRALIA	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei ended the morning down 1.77 points at 16,399.96.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for November delivery, was 22
cents higher at $79.75 a barrel from $79.53 in late US trades Tuesday where it had
dropped $1.42.

Happy trading!

G.

OUTLOOK Kesa Electricals H1 pretax profit seen lowerOUTLOOK Smiths Group FY profits to edge up amid company turmoilOUTLOOK Dairy Crest H1 boosted by strong performances from key brandsTFN economic and business calendar

Thomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: stocks mixed; oil lower

TFN UK calendar and forecasts for today

The Wednesday Press Roundup

*KESA ELECTRICALS SAYS ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IN EUROPE UNCERTAIN IN H2

BROKERWATCH WPP Group upped to 'overweight' vs 'equal-weight' at Morgan Stanley

*SMITHS GROUP SAYS OUTLOOK IN ITS SECTORS REMAINS ROBUST GOING FORWARD

London shares outlook - up, Northern Rock cancels div, enters approach talks

BROKERWATCH DSG International, Kesa Electricals targets cut by Credit Suisse

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

Australian shares close mixed as BHP Billiton, Rio retreat from record highs

STOCKWATCH Smiths Group up after results, Bowman new CEO, Landsbanki 'hold'UK smallcap opening - Claims People edges up on return to H1 profitTokyo shares close higher on expectations of solid first-half earnings

STOCKWATCH Kesa Electricals lower post H1 results; Landsbanki keeps as 'reduce'Australian shares close mixed as BHP Billiton, Rio retreat - UPDATE

London shares open up, Northern Rock jumps on approach news, NY closes mixed

Tokyo shares close higher on expectations of solid first-half earnings - UPDATEFTSE opens comfortably higher

UK smallcap opening - Netplay TV ticks up on growth prospects

UK smallcap opening - Eclipse VCT climbs after FY results

UK smallcap opening - Cosentino Wines higher on much-reduced H1 losses

UK smallcap opening - Topps Tiles up on update

UK smallcap opening - Subsea Resources runs back as FY losses widen

Metals - LME inventory data (Wednesday)

Metals - Gold ticks up as more dollar weakness spurs buying

STOCKWATCH Iberia soars on reports in fresh bid talk with Air FranceMetals - Copper flat as falling stocks offset lacklustre US data

BROKERWATCH Johnson Matthey started as 'outperform' by Bear StearnsSTOCKWATCH Northern Rock jumps post approach news; Collins Stewart repeat 'hold'

Metals - Copper flat as falling stocks offset lacklustre US data UPDATE

Metals - Gold near higher levels as more dollar weakness spurs buying UPDATE

London shares - mid-morning features

STOCKWATCH Johnson Matthey up after trading update; Merrill Lynch 'neutral'

STOCKWATCH Akzo Nobel outperforms; kept at 'buy' at ABN Amro, signs licence deal

STOCKWATCH Barry Callebaut gains on Morinaga deal

STOCKWATCH Smiths Group higher post FY, CEO change; DK ups target to 1,200p

STOCKWATCH Kesa Electricals down as H1 profit falls; misses Citigroup estimatesUS futures point firmly higher

RPT STOCKWATCH Smiths Group higher post FY, CEO change; DK ups target to 1,200p

London shares - midday features

UK small caps lower at midday; Subsea Resources top loser as FY losses widen

Midday Market Roundup

Precious Metals Summary - London AM Fixings

STOCKWATCH HBOS higher; Goldman Sachs upgrades to 'buy' from 'neutral'

FOCUS UK households to feel delayed impact of credit turmoil

WALL STREET OUTLOOK Higher open seen on GM-United Auto Workers deal UPDATE

Metals - Gold bolstered by more poor US data, remains near record high

STOCKWATCH Retec Digital lower after FY results; Charles Stanley cuts to 'add'

London shares - midafternoon features

Metals - Copper edges higher as supply fears, stronger dollar lend support

Precious Metals Summary - London PM Fixings

TFN economic and business calendar to Wednesday Oct 10

End-of-day Market Roundup

UK small caps rally to close higher; Cosentino Wines top on narrower H1 losses

Precious Metals Summary - London Close