S&P Futures

U.S indexes closed higher and techs lower as optimism as major indexes faltered near the close following reports of a series of explosions in Damascus and continued fighting in Iraq. Greenspan said high oil prices here to stay and they would affect businesses but that U.S. is also less energy dependent.

Major indexes are now flirting with their 200-day moving averages.  In April 2003 when it went positive it was a sign the bull market had staying power. When the opposite happens it could be a strong sign that the party is over (CNN).

Unilever reported a seven percent rise in first-quarter profits to 851 million euros but said a 1.3 percent rise in its 400 top brand sales was disappointing and behind targets. This was due to the 'Atkins Diet' losing them a few pounds.

Imperial Tobacco beat forecasts by 19 million with a 20 percent rise in first-half profit to 454 million pounds as strength in the UK offset higher taxes in Germany, and said the trading outlook remained as expected.

Cookson Group electronics and ceramics said positive progress was made by each of its three divisions in the first quarter of 2004 as it reported a profit of 18 million pounds compared to a loss of one million pounds in the same period a year ago

Legal & General reported a four percent drop in first quarter sales to 215 million pounds below consensus estimates of 223 million, but said it was confident of gaining market share.

Wilson Bowden is trading in line with expectations and has strong forward sales. This gives us confidence that results for the current year will show further improvement and progress for the group," the firm said in a statement ahead of its annual general meeting.

Imperial Tobacco (I), Unilever (I), Numis (I), European Motor Holdings (F), Fortune Oil (F),

Legal & General (AGM & Trading), Reed Elsevier (AGM & Trading), Aggreko (AGM), Atlantic Global (AGM), Estates and General (AGM), Harrier (AGM), Henderson High Income (AGM),Kidde (AGM),Tarsus (AGM),Travis Perkins (AGM),Wilson Bowden (AGM),Wyevale Garden Centres (AGM),Xaar (AGM),Countrywide Assured (EGM), Entertainment Rights (EGM)

Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, Moody's,Conoco Phillips, Amerada Hess,Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Comcast, Hilton Hotels, LSI Logic, Xcel Energy, Omnicom, Phelps Dodge, Symantec, Time Warner, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Praxair, JDS Uniphase, QLogic, AT&T Wireless Services,

Krones, Herman Kronseder Maschinenfabrik MLP, Siemens, Schwarz Pharma, Dialog Semiconductor Plc

Accor, L'Air Liquide, Lafarge, WavecomElior,

Ex Dividend: Barratt Developments 6.9p, James Halstead 6p, McBride 1.2p, PM 1p, AGA Foodservice 5p, Balfour Beatty 3.4p, Belgravium Technologies 0.3p, Cadbury Schweppes 8.35p, Candover Investments 26.5p, Carillion 3.48p, Centrica 3.7p, Cox Insurance Holdings 1p, 4imprint 3p, GKN 7.8p, Gowrings 1p, Holders Technology 2.5p, Highcroft Investments 7.25p, International Energy 3.6p, Irish Life & Permanent 28.37p, James Halstead 6p, Kidde 1.81p, Kiln 0.4p, Kerry 6.78p, Litho Supplies 1.75p, Marlborough Stirling 0.5p, Mayborn 4.3p, Mersey Docks & Harbour Company 16p, Maiden (The) 4p, Northern Rock 15.8p,(Novar 6.6p, Peterhouse 4p, PSD 3p, Reed Elsevier 8.7p, RMC 21.8p, Rutland Trust 0.8p, Secure Trust Banking 20.5p, Singer & Friedlander 26p, Senior 1.35p, Systems Union 1p, Thompson Clive Investments 7.83p, Torday & Carlisle 1p, TDG 8.75p, Telemetrix 2.15p, Tomkins 7.4p, Tesco Weir 9.05p, Wilson Bowden 25.5p, Xstrata 13p,

David@SnappyTrader.com   www.SnappyTrader.com