Morning all. Market reports:

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

The odds on an interest-rate cut next week shortened yesterday after lenders told the Bank of England that the mortgage famine would get worse.
Mortgage deal squeeze raises chances of cut in interest rate

The Bank of England is now odds-on to cut interest rates next week, experts said, after new figures indicated that the economy is at its weakest in five years and that the mortgage drought is set to worsen.
Interest rate cut 'odds-on' as economy weakens

Governments and central banks could do more to prevent tearaway housing market bubbles, the International Monetary Fund has warned. In comments which may be seen as a sideswipe at authorities in the US and the UK, where housing prices soared to record levels in recent years, before taking a turn for the worse, the IMF said both central banks and policymakers should "lean against the wind" when it came to controlling property markets.
Banks could help to limit housing bubbles, says IMF

International banks are scrambling to sell their holdings of Spanish mortgage debt at a steep discount, fearing that the country may be sliding into the worst economic downturn in its modern history.
Foreign banks flee Spanish property debt

The chief executive of Bear Stearns accused traders yesterday of bringing down his securities firm by spreading unfounded rumours designed to induce a panic that led to a run on the group. Christopher Cox, the head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, said that it was looking closely at whether market participants illegally colluded to short shares in Bear Stearns before its rescue.
Bear Stearns says traders' false rumours took bank to the brink

The US Federal Reserve has sent staff into some of Wall Streets biggest firms and its New York branch is gathering evidence on key traders activities as Americas central bank raises its scrutiny of risk to an unprecedented level.
Federal Reserve staff move into offices of investment banks to monitor activities

Hermitage Capital, the leading foreign portfolio investor in Russia, claims it has been the victim of an attempted fraud and theft of hundreds of millions of dollars by individuals connected to the Russian Interior Ministry.
Hermitage Capital alleges fraud and theft involving Russian Interior Ministry

One of Russia's largest foreign investors and a leading opponent of corruption has broken cover to take on criminal elements in the higher reaches of law enforcement agencies to expose the lawless heart of corporate Russia. Bill Browder, whose $4bn (2bn) Hermitage Capital Management hedge fund is largely invested in the former Soviet republic, is fighting back after allegedly being targeted by gangs trying to seize hundreds of millions of dollars of Hermitage's cash and assets.
Exposing Russia's corporate 'corruption'

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently down 44.36 points at 13,345.54, while the
Hang Seng is closed for the day.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, rose 42 cents
to $104.25 per barrel.

Happy Friday!

G.

Thomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Stocks, oil mixedTFN economic and business calendar

TFN UK calendar and forecasts for today

Australian shares close slightly higher on resource sector gains

First Day of DealingsFirst Day of Dealings

London shares outlook - higher as NY closes up, await US non-farm payroll dataFirst Day of Dealings

The Friday Press Roundup

*XSTRATA SAYS 'VERY CONFIDENT' FOR OUTLOOK, PROSPECTS IN SHORT- AND MEDIUM-TERM

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

BROKERWATCH AstraZeneca price target upped 2 pct to 2,200p at Morgan StanleyAustralian shares close slightly higher on resource sector gains - UPDATE

BROKERWATCH BSkyB kept as 'buy' at UBS, ITV kept as 'sell' after Ofcom report

Tokyo shares close lower on profit-taking ahead of U.S. jobs data

BROKERWATCH Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Xstrata upgraded at Sanford Bernstein

UK smallcap opening - Zetex climbs on agreed 85.45 pence a share bid from Diodes

London shares open higher; British Energy gains on bid rumours, await job report

UK smallcap opening - Commoditrade firms on FY results

UK smallcap opening - Oak Holdings higher on Laing O'Rourke deal

Tokyo shares close lower on profit-taking ahead of U.S. jobs data - UPDATE

BROKERWATCH Brokers upbeat on drinks companies after US data

UK smallcap opening - Caledon Resources down on disappointing operations update

STOCKWATCH DSG International lower; Goldman Sachs cuts target to 60 pence vs 87

London shares open higher; British Energy gains on bid rumours UPDATE

UK small caps open lower; Caledon Resources down on disappointing update

Metals - Gold steady above $900, eyes on U.S. data

Metals - Copper eases as stocks start rising; trade nervous ahead of U.S. data

Metals - Gold steady above $900, eyes on U.S. data UPDATE

London shares - mid-morning features

STOCKWATCH British Energy rises as bid speculation mounts; Evolution stays 'buy'

Metals - Copper eases as stocks rise; trade nervous ahead of U.S. data UPDATE

WALL STREET OUTLOOK Futures flat ahead of U.S. jobs report

Thomson Financial News at a glance - Today's UK, European broker recommendations

Midday Market Roundup

STOCKWATCH British Energy rises as bid speculation mounts; Evolution stays 'buy'Precious Metals Summary - London AM FixingsUK small caps drop at midday; North Midland Construction drop on profits news

OUTLOOK Eurasian Natural Resources full-year EBITDA jumps in maiden results

Metals - Gold hits day high after poor U.S. data; focus shifts to rate cut

Metals - Copper rises as weak data sparks rate cut talk

London shares - midafternoon features

Precious Metals Summary - London PM Fixings

CORRECTION OUTLOOK ENRC full-year EBITDA jumps in maiden results

TFN economic and business calendar to Friday April 18

OUTLOOK Cadbury expected to beat target for Q1 sales growth

End-of-day Market Roundup

Have a great weekend all!