Afternoon all. Friday's market reports:

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

Saturday

Lloyds TSB has agreed to forfeit $350m (231m) to law enforcement authorities in the US after admitting breaking international sanctions by secretly channelling Sudanese and Iranian money into the American banking system.
Lloyds forfeits $350m for disguising origin of funds from Iran and Sudan

The government is preparing to guarantee up to 80% of loans to small businesses as part of a multi-billion pound package of measures to stimulate the economy.
Government to underwrite 80% of small business loans

Higher-rate taxpayers and those who are self-employed face a greater risk of a tax investigation, as the Revenue deploys tougher tactics to fill a 7 billion black hole in Treasury coffers.
Taxman steps up investigations to fill 7bn shortfall at Treasury

Sunday

The Bank of England will be able to print extra money without having legally to declare it under new plans which will heighten fears that the Government will secretly pump extra cash into the economy.
Reform plan raises fears of Bank secrecy

The Treasury is considering overhauling international banking regulations after being warned by some of the country's most senior bankers that they are restricting the amount of money they can make available for new lending.
Treasury told to relax capital rules

FOUR of Londons top hedge-fund managers face a public grilling after being summoned to appear before the influential Commons Treasury committee over the role of hedge funds in the banking crisis.
Hedge chiefs to be grilled by MPs

The number of companies releasing profit warnings rose by 17 per cent to 449 last year, the highest yearly figure since 2001, according to new research published today by Ernst & Young.
Profit warnings at seven-year high among UK companies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. recession will probably be the longest since World War Two and could worsen without heavy government spending, according to a closely-watched survey of economists released on Saturday. The Blue Chip Economic Indicators poll of 52 economists from top financial firms, major companies and academia found that most expected a tepid recovery to begin later this year, with growth returning to more normal levels in 2010.
Economists see longest recession since World War Two

The Bank of England will be able to print extra money without having legally to declare it under new plans.
your having a laff

Good morning Traders!

In Asia today, the Hang Seng ended the morning down 275.86 points at 14,101.58.

Happy Monday!

G.

The Bank of England will be able to print extra money without having legally to declare it under new plans.
your having a laff

You mean you didn't read the bit about the other plan to secretly distribute the newly printed money via MPs' salaries? ;-)

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX

A planned 30 per cent rise in local government tax poses a new threat to the survival of beleaguered shop owners, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Business rates paid by retailers will rise to 7 billion by 2010, from 5.45 billion in the last financial year, under proposals to be voted on by Parliament today.
Weary retailers muster to fight business tax plans

One of the world's leading economists has given warning that the United States is facing a decade of financial misery, with the number of unemployed Americans set to continue to rise for years.
Leading economist fears decade of weakness in US

Oil traders are seeking to hire at least five more supertankers this month to hoard crude at sea, bringing the total amount being stored to enough to supply Britain for 35 days, according to the world's largest operator of the vessels.
Oil traders demand ships to store crude before prices rebound

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to spurn demands for a further drastic cut in interest rates this week, despite evidence that the eurozone is sliding into a brutal slump.
European Central Bank set to reject demands for significant cut in rates

Harbinger Capital, the activist US hedge fund headed by Philip Falcone that shot to fame in 2007 with a lucrative bet against subprime mortgages, joined the list of funds restricting withdrawals for investors a day before the end of last year. Harbingers main fund rose almost 43% in the first half of last year but lost all its profits and ended the year down 27.1%.
Harbinger puts limits on withdrawals

The first major pay revolt since the economic downturn started is expected this week with Bellway's directors likely to be told their bonuses and pay rises are not acceptable.
Activist shareholders get tough over directors' pay

Morning!

End-of-day Market Overview