S&P Futures

US stock markets closed higher after a shaky start higher following some upbeat earnings results.

Allied Domecq posted a six percent rise in half-year profits at 266 million and added it was on track to deliver annual earnings growth in line with market expectations.

Abbey National said that the profit outlook at its retail banking business was moderately weaker than expected as Q1 profit at 216.5 million missed forecasts.

McCarthy & Stone retirement home builder posted an 11-percent rise 44.1 million pounds half-year profit at the top end of expectations, and said economic conditions remained good for business.

George Wimpey said trading in the U.S. and UK remained encouraging during the last few weeks, with the market in the United States remaining particularly strong. They have seen no signs of the market slowing down so far.

BAA to invest over 8 bln in London airports

WH Smith made an 84 million pound loss against a 27 million pound gain a year earlier. It said it would allow Permira to look at its books before deciding whether to go ahead with a 940 million pounds bid but there was no certainty that a firm offer would follow.

Marconi Corp posted fourth-quarter sales at 378 million pounds towards the bottom end of forecasts but reiterated that market conditions were stabilising.

Persimmon now the largest biggest housebuilder said that demand for homes across all ranges had been encouraging since the start of the year. Current revenues are up more than 35 percent from a year fuelled by good demand & higher prices.

Brown & Jackson sales rose 2% in Q1following an excellent performance at its refurbished Instore stores and said said it was cautiously optimistic of the year ahead . The owner of the Poundstretcher chain posted an operating loss of 0.4 million pounds for the year in line with market expectations. It also announced a rights issue to raise around 25.4 million pounds for the accelerated conversion of its Poundstretcher stores and a new distribution centre.

Brown & Jackson (F), Hitachi Capital (F), Allied Domecq PLC (I), McCarthy & Stone (I), Smith WH (I), Corus (AGM), George Wimpey (AGM),

Abbey National (Trading), Schroeders (AGM), Reuters (AGM)08:30 March prov M4/M4 lending 08:30 March capital issuance 08:30 BBA March net sterling lending 08:30 CML March mortgage lending 08:30 March PSNCR 08:30 BSA March mortgage lending

American Express, AT&T, Caterpillar, Amgen,

BellSouth,Edison,

Freddie Mac, Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, MBNA,

Merck , Microsoft, Office Depot, Reebok International Limited, Sara Lee, Viacom

13:30 Initial Claims 04/17 - 335K

SAP AG, Comdirect Bank AG

Lafarge SA, Sanofi-Synthelabo