Morning all. Friday's market reports:

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

Saturday

Citigroup and Bear Stearns, two of Wall Street's biggest investment banks, have been hit by problems surrounding their own hedge funds as the credit crisis continues to claim victims. Citi is nursing considerable losses in a number of its funds, while the criminal investigation into the collapse of two Bear Stearns hedge funds appears to be gaining traction.
Citigroup bars withdrawals as Bear Stearns feels the credit squeeze

The number of people declaring themselves bankrupt in England and Wales has more than doubled in the past four years as more debtors struggle to pay their bills.
Bankruptcy record follows credit crunch

Supermarkets have been given "carte blanche" to take over town centres under proposals from the competition watchdog, campaigners claim.
'Whitewash' report will fuel supermarket boom

The Competition Commission has ruled that no major changes are required in the grocery market, giving supermarkets the go-ahead for thousands more supermarkets. Here are some reactions so far.
Competition Commission on supermarkets: Reaction

Three quarters of all people who petitioned for bankruptcy last year did so voluntarily, new figures show. While overall bankruptcy petitions fell slightly last year, figures from the Ministry of Justice released yesterday showed more people initiating proceedings.
More volunteer for bankruptcy as going bust loses its stigma

Global Trader Europe (GTE), the beleaguered CFD (contracts for difference) provider, has gone into administration after the Financial Services Authority launched an investigation into some of its clients' affairs.
Global Trader placed into administration

Sunday

TWO of Britains biggest banks, Barclays and Lloyds TSB, will this week attempt to lift the climate of fear surrounding Britains financial institutions by declaring an unexpected increase in dividend payments.
Barclays Bank, Lloyds TSB try to lift gloom with dividend rise

On Tuesday, Barclays will reveal whether or not it will have to put aside more cash provisions to cover toxic debt lurking on its balance sheet, amid City fears that there is more pain to come from the John Varley-led bank.
Sub-prime spotlight falls on Barclays

Bradford & Bingley has blocked directors from dealing in the bank's shares until the worst of the credit crunch has passed to protect them from accusations of insider dealing.
B&B share dealing ban on directors

Barratt Developments, Britain's biggest housebuilder, is at risk of breaching its banking covenants. With debt approaching 2bn the builder, responsible for one in eight new homes built in the UK, needs to reduce its debt by 100m. As things stand it would break its contractual obligations with the banks.
Barratt's borrowing causes concern

A stand-off in the British property market between buyers and sellers is creating a nation of second-time renters who have sold their homes and are waiting for house prices to fall before they buy again.
Sell-to-rent boom as buyers back off

Could it happen here? The "stranger originated life insurance" (Stoli) phenomenon where senior citizens in the US have been targeted by the likes of hedge funds, which buy their life insurance and gamble on their untimely demise promp-ted the City watchdog to conduct an inquiry in the UK. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) said that it found little evidence of the practice but, significantly, added that it was not necessarily illegal.
Could Stoli spread to Britain? City watchdog says the system stops insurance with strangers

Should you be worried if a hedge fund manager you have never met has an interest in seeing you dead? Should we all be worried when people start taking out life insurance policies, not to protect their families, but to sell them later at a profit? And the biggest question of all: are the Wall Street brainboxes who brought us the sub-prime mortgage meltdown charting a similar course for the life insurance market?
You can bet your life this policy will end in tears

Ethical and climate change funds that claim to be socially responsible are failing to invest in companies which support the environment, a new study claims. The report by independent financial adviser Holden & Partners reveals most ethical funds are 'surprisingly mainstream' in their overall portfolios, with very little investment in committed environmental companies.
Storm brews over the content of ethical funds

PHILLIP BENNETT, British boss of the collapsed futures trader Refco, pleaded guilty in a New York court late on Friday to his part in an alleged $2.4 billion (1.2 billion) fraud. The Cambridge graduate faces life imprisonment with a possible maximum sentence of 315 years.
Phillip Bennett, boss of collapsed futures trader Refco, admits $2.4bn fraud plot

Monday

The International Monetary Fund should re-invent itself as a sovereign wealth fund, hoovering up equities and investments from around the world, a leading expert in the field has recommended.
Invest in equities, expert tells IMF

For months, in its bottom drawer, the Government has had a Bill to nationalise Northern Rock. But it has been extremely reluctant to use it, knowing that such drastic action would trigger a flood of criticism of the Government, regulators and London as a financial centre.
No to Virgin and Flowers as Northern Rock nationalised

Northern Rock's shareholders were furious last night over the Chancellor's decision to nationalise the troubled bank, effectively rendering their shares worthless. The Treasury now faces expensive and lengthy legal action from enraged institutional and retail investors.
'Our shares are worthless' say the Rock's furious investors

The Government will try to head off legal challenges to nationalisation from Northern Rock shareholders by appointing an independent arbitrator to value the battered lender. The Treasury will appoint the adjudicator in the next few days and their decision would be legally binding. The method of valuing a company is common in disputes between owners of businesses but has not been used in a nationalisation.
Treasury seeks to head off legal action

Two of the UK's biggest banks are expected to increase their dividend payouts this week, in spite of the devastation wrought to banks' balance sheets by the credit crunch. The huge payouts, though likely to be cheered in the City, are expected to produce a backlash from unions and politicians at a time when the economy is facing a downturn and consumers are being squeezed by the consequences of easy credit provided by banks.
Barclays and Lloyds TSB set to increase dividends

An increasing number of City law firms are breaking one of the profession's greatest unwritten rules by positioning themselves to sue investment banks, confident that the first of an expected wave of lawsuits arising from the credit crunch will emerge in Britain within weeks.
Law firms get set to sue investment banks

The asking price for houses moved up last month but property is taking far longer to sell, according to new figures out today. Homes are lingering on the market for 93 days, 15 days longer than last year, and agents have an average of 64 properties on their books, up from 54 last February, according to Rightmove, the property website.
Clouds hover over the housing market

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei ended up 12.84 points at 13,635.40, while the Hang Seng
reached midway down 218.34 points at 23,930.09.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, rose
9 cents to $95.59 per barrel.

Happy trading!

G.

Tokyo shares close higher on foreign investor interestTFN UK calendar and forecasts for todayTFN economic and business calendar to Friday Feb 29Australian shares close lower led by banks after ANZ shocker - UPDATEThomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Stocks mixed, oil upAustralian shares close lower led by banks

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide - weekend

CORRECTION Tokyo shares close higher on foreign investor interest

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

London shares outlook - lower as NY finished weaker, banking stocks may focus

Tokyo shares close higher on foreign investor interest - UPDATE

BROKERWATCH BT Group target price cut to 325p vs 335 at INGThe Monday Press RoundupThomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

UK smallcap opening - Mediasurface slips on swing to FY losses and placing

UK smallcap opening - Carnegie Mineral down as mining engineer detained

UK smallcap opening - Surface Transforms firms on MBDA contract win

UK smallcap opening - Northern Petroleum higher on reserves increase

London shares open higher; banking stocks gain on reports of dividend increases

UK smallcap opening - Oxonica up after successful Envirox trial

UK smallcap opening - First Calgary rises on Cazenove appointment

UK smallcap opening - Faroe advances on Wissey gas field success

UK smallcap opening - Low & Bonar climbs on 52 pct FY profits increase, div hike

UK smallcap opening - Rockhopper higher on 3D seismic data

BROKERWATCH Wolters Kluwer target cut to 24 eur vs 26 at Rabo; stays 'buy'London shares open higher; banks gains on reports of dividend increases UPDATE

Metals - Platinum steadies after touching another fresh record highUK small caps open higher; Oxonica strong on successful Envirox trialUK smallcap opening - Plasmon down as cash break-even target deferredMetals - Platinum steadies after touching another fresh record high

BROKERWATCH William Hill, Ladbrokes upgraded by Credit Suisse; targets reduced

OUTLOOK Centrica FY opg profit seen higher; eyes on British Gas performanceBROKERWATCH Bradford and Bingley reiterated as 'underweight' by JP Morgan

Metals - Copper up on stock fall, Chinese demand; aluminium near 9-mth highs

BROKERWATCH UBS says Vale could afford to pay up to 48 stg a share for Xstrata

Metals - Platinum hits fresh high above 2,100 usd/oz on South Africa supply woes

BROKERWATCH UK Competition Commission paper to have minor impact on supermarketsMetals - Platinum hits new high above 2,100 usd/oz on SAfrica supply woes UPDATE

STOCKWATCH ArcelorMittal up as Nippon Steel agrees iron ore price rise UPDATEMetals - Copper up on stock fall, Chinese demand; aluminium gains UPDATE

London shares - mid-morning features

Metals - Platinum hits new high above 2,100 usd/oz on SAfrica supply woes UPDATE

FOCUS Distrigas-SPE tie-up could see Centrica become 2nd Belgian energy playerUK small caps stay higher at midday; Oxonica gains on Envirox trial success

Midday Market Roundup

London shares - midday features

OUTLOOK Kingfisher Q4 to reveal slowdown

Precious Metals Summary - London AM Fixings

BROKERWATCH Heineken target lowered to 43 eur from 48 at Theodoor Gilissen

OUTLOOK Shire FY profit seen up but Vyvanse in focus

One for the "UPS"

MPH - Mid 12.875p
Reason - Buying since last Friday and again today, sells are drying out on a very narrow spread. Shares have drop after a profit warning but market valuation is 3M on last year sales of 90 and profit of M5.7M, due for a bounce value long term.

OUTLOOK S&N seen taking UK share in last set of FY results

TFN economic and business calendar to Monday March 3

BROKERWATCH Lonmin started as 'sell' at Blue Oar Securities; Ridge Mining 'buy'

Metals - Platinum holds near record peak, gold capped by steady dollar

London shares - midafternoon features

Precious Metals Summary - London PM Fixings

OUTLOOK Rexam FY underlying profit down 8.3 pct on decline in Plastics Packaging

STOCKWATCH Bayer falls after Nexavar kidney cancer trials cancelled

TFN economic and business calendar to Monday March 3

End-of-day Market Roundup