Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow rallied, up 189.87 points at 13,010.00, while the S&P500
added 23.75 points at 1,409.34 and the Nasdaq Composite surged 67.91 points to
2,480.71.

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

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

Britain's economy will remain shaky but will narrowly avoid recession as long as another Northern Rock is not around the corner, according to a report out today. The prediction, from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), comes after data released yesterday showing that activity in the country's manufacturing sector declined in April to its second-lowest level in two years.
No recession, economists say - provided there are no more Rocks

Texas Pacific Group is poised to bid for Royal Bank of Scotland's 8bn insurance arm - a move which would dash fears that private equity players are struggling to finance major takeover deals.
Texas Pacific weighs up RBS insurer risk

There were renewed signs of management division at the top of Barclays last night when the chief operating officer, Paul Idzik, unexpectedly quit.
Barclays executive quits amid talk of rift

Rumours have been swirling before Lloyds's annual general meeting next Thursday that it could be the next bank to announce a cash call on shareholders. But Britain's biggest bank for personal current accounts is expected to say on Tuesday that its strong capital ratios and access to funding set it apart from rivals which have announced big rights issues.
Lloyds to resist rights issue despite effect of writedowns

Clive Cowdery, the colourful insurance entrepreneur who founded Resolution, has relaunched his pioneering investment vehicle to target distressed financial services companies across Europe in the wake of the credit crunch.
Clive Cowdery breathes new life into Resolution

Capital & Regional (C&R), one of Britains largest commercial property companies, suffered a brutal share sell-off yesterday amid concerns that its flagship fund had breached its banking covenants.
Capital & Regional shares plunge on fear its Mall Fund has breached covenants

Reservations of newbuild houses and flats have collapsed by two-thirds this spring due to the lack of mortgage availability, according to confidential industry data.
New-build homes market collapses

Hammerson, the commercial property company, said rents in the City of London office market were falling because banks were shedding jobs in the wake of the credit crunch and needed less space.
Office rents tumble as city firms cut jobs

A looming consumer crunch will cause household spending growth to grind to a halt this year and leave Britains economy in its most precarious position in over a decade, the countrys leading economics institute says today.
UK spending spree is set to end, says institute

450m money market fund, regarded as an ultra safe alternative to cash, has lost millions of pounds after putting small investors' money in investments whose value has slumped because of the credit crunch. The capital value of the Threadneedle UK Money Securities fund has fallen virtually every month since the credit crunch first began last summer, in contrast to most other money market funds in the sector.
'Ultra safe' money market fund loses millions

Britains bankruptcy rules have exacerbated the effect of the credit crunch across the country, the UKs leading economics institute said today.
Lax British bankruptcy rules worsen credit crunch

Reliance Globalcom, the Indian telecoms group, is preparing to break London's IPO drought with a listing that will target a market valuation of as much as 6 billion.
Reliance Globalcom targets 6bn IPO listing

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

US Video: Stock Market Technical Analysis 5/01/08

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Hang Seng ended the morning up 493.25 points at 26,248.60,
while the Nikkei was recently up 288.29 points at 14,055.15.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, slipped 57
cents to $111.95 per barrel.

Happy Friday!

G.

TFN economic and business calendar to Thursday May 15Thomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Stocks rise; oil fallsTFN economic and business calendar

London shares outlook - higher after Wall Street, Asia rally; banks in headlines

The Friday Press Roundup

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

Australian shares close at 9-week high, led by financials

UK smallcap opening - In House edges up on new facility

UK smallcap opening - Northern Recruitment runs back on FY profits warning

BROKERWATCH Carnival cut to 'sell' from 'buy' at SG Securities

Australian shares close at 9-week high, led by financials - UPDATE

STOCKWATCH Cadbury dips as it starts trade as confectionery only; brokers mixedUK smallcap opening - China Medstar climbs on bid talks at 62 pence a shareTokyo shares close sharply higher on Wall St rally, Nikkei above 14,000 - UPDATEUK smallcap opening - China Medstar climbs on bid talks at 62 pence a share

STOCKWATCH Rentokil Initial up after Q1 results; Seymour Pierce raises to 'buy'

UK smallcap opening - Hampson up on acquisitions

UK smallcap opening - Mediterranean Oil higher on Ombrina Mar 2 update

UK smallcap opening - Quadnetics slides on FY profits warning

UK smallcap opening - BGlobal runs back on higher FY loss warning

London shares open up after Wall St, Asia rally; RBoS up on disposal talk UPDATE

OUTLOOK InterContinental Hotels set to update on rooms pipeline next weekMetals - Gold steady at low levels as dollar remains strong, oil falls

UK small caps open higher, with Deuxmil Marine strong on reverse takeoverMetals - Copper prices edge higher after dollar-led rout

Metals - Gold steady at low levels as dollar remains strong, oil falls UPDATE

STOCKWATCH Lufthansa up on easing oil prices, British Airways cooperation talks

OUTLOOK Lloyds TSB trading update to throw spotlight on capital strengthMetals - Copper prices edge higher after dollar-led rout UPDATELondon shares - mid-morning features

OUTLOOK Next to report grim Q1 sales

OUTLOOK Lonmin H1 EBIT rises on stronger precious metal prices

BROKERWATCH Barclays downgraded to 'reduce' from 'hold' by Dresdner Kleinwort

BROKERWATCH Smith & Nephew upped to 'buy' at Dresdner Kleinwort; target 650p

STOCKWATCH Rentokil higher after Q1 results; Merrill Lynch keeps 'buy' UPDATELondon shares - midday features

UK small caps up at midday; Deuxmil Marine climbs as shares resume trading

Midday Market Roundup

Precious Metals Summary - London AM Fixings

OUTLOOK BAE Systems may unveil successor to outgoing chief executive at AGM

Metals - Gold higher after 4 month low ahead of payrolls

Metals - Gold hits four-month low as dollar rises after U.S. jobs data

AHT 66p +4.75p

moving higher today from lows, order book pretty strong on the bid sides
Has BREAKOUT from the last high
company buying its own shares lately

Metals - Copper rises on bargain hunting after yesterday's dollar-led rout

London shares - midafternoon features

BROKERWATCH Smith & Nephew upped to 'neutral' from 'reduce' at Nomura Code

Precious Metals Summary - London PM Fixings

TFN economic and business calendar to Friday May 16

End-of-day Market Roundup

Have a great weekend everybody.

G.

P.S. I'll be putting The Traders Thread for Tuesday together on Sunday afternoon.