Good morning traders!

In the US last night, the Dow fell 43 points to 14,932, the Nasdaq lost 1 point at 3,433
and the S&P500 eased a point at 1,614.

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently off 323 points at 14,066 and the Hang Seng
down 386 points at 20,272.

WTI crude oil traded at $99.72 a barrel and Brent crude at $104.

Gold settled at $1,243 an ounce.

Good hunting!

G.

This is positive - if not unexpected, news - Treasury confirms AIM shares will be available in ISAs

China services sector expands, but fails to soothe growth worries

BEIJING | Wed Jul 3, 2013 6:31am BST

(Reuters) - China's services sector expanded modestly in June with the vast construction industry acting as a drag on output, in a further sign that the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum.

A lacklustre services sector will not help buffer a deeper slowdown in manufacturing at a time when China's top leaders appear reluctant to loosen the policy reins to shore up growth.

Morning All, Just interested in how many people click and read this thread most days, please post a yes I do message.

I do! :-)

Nikkei edges down on Asian market weakness, China data

Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:17am BST
TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - The Nikkei average edged down in
choppy trade on Wednesday, as appetites were hit by weakness in
Asian shares and worries about the tepid Chinese economy after a
survey showed its services sector grew at the slowest pace in
nine months in June.

The benchmark Nikkei, which had risen the four
previous sessions, changed gears and dropped 0.3 percent to
14,055.56 after touching a five-week high of 14,164.77. The
Topix gained 0.2 percent to 1,173.81.

Not you fatty -): now come on you lot.. your chance of fame -):

Spanish Services PMI 47.8 47.8 47.3

Count me in, although I have not had much time recently and have just been peeking through the Trader's Room window!

Thanks for the contributions chaps.

Italian Services PMI 45.8 47.1 46.5

I do :)

FTSE100 tumbles to heavy losses in early deals today

EUR Final Services PMI 48.3 48.6 48.6

GBP Services PMI 56.9 54.6 54.9

Thanks you G/S and Kim, 9.42 and only 4 takers so far, Come on you lot there must be more surly?.. And no wise cracks about don't call me Shirley.

Services sector fires on all cylinders in June - PMI

LONDON | Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:34am BST
(Reuters) - Britain's service sector grew at the fastest rate in more than two years in June, a survey showed on Wednesday, fuelling optimism on the economy and giving Mark Carney more good news in his first week as Bank of England governor.

In a sign that the upswing may be sustained, new orders in the service sector rose at the fastest rate since June 2007, while a broader survey of private sector activity pointed to solid economic growth in the second quarter.

Coming on the heels of robust manufacturing data out on Monday, the figures suggest Britain's economy may need no more stimulus to reach what Carney has termed "escape velocity".

EUR Retail Sales m/m 1.0% 0.4% -0.5%

FTSE 100 stumbles to triple-digit losses in midday trade

USD Challenger Job Cuts y/y 4.8% -41.2%

USD ADP Non-Farm Employment Change 188K 161K 135K

CAD Trade Balance -0.3B -0.7B -0.6B

USD Trade Balance -45.0B -40.3B -40.3B

USD Unemployment Claims 343K 345K 346K

Robust UK data dims case for more monetary stimulus

LONDON | Wed Jul 3, 2013 1:43pm BST
(Reuters) - Britain's service sector put in a stellar performance in June, suggesting the economy is recovering faster than expected and dimming talk that new Bank of England Governor Mark Carney may want to push quickly for more monetary stimulus.

Adding to the brighter economic news that has dominated Carney's first week in office were separate surveys showing subdued inflation and rising demand for credit.

USD ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI 52.2 54.3 53.7

Portugal president calls crisis talks as government teeters

LISBON | Wed Jul 3, 2013 2:53pm BST
(Reuters) - Portugal's president summoned main political parties for crisis talks over the government's future with markets reeling on fears that a snap election could derail Lisbon's exit from an international bailout.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva's office said he would meet the leader of the main opposition Socialists later on Wednesday, the premier on Thursday and other parties after that. Under the constitution, he has the power to dissolve parliament and can act to mediate in political crises.

FTSE100 ends session sharply lower but off its worst levels

4?.. Can't be only 4 surely.