Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow Jones was down 105.3 points at 8,122.8, with the
Nasdaq Composite off 41.58 points at 1,465.49 and the S&P500 12.74 points lower
at 827.5.

Crude closed pit trading with a modest 0.2% loss at $43.45 per barrel.

See you in the morning with the latest.

G.

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Hang Seng closed the morning session down 24.12 points at
12,633.87, while the Nikkei down 306.49 points at 7,745.25.

Happy Friday!

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

Britain risks bankruptcy and a humiliating bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because of Gordon Brown's borrowing, David Cameron said yesterday. With official confirmation that the economy has entered recession expected today, the Tory leader delivered his strongest warning yet.
We'll have to go begging to the IMF, says Cameron

Tim Geithner managed to startle the world's biggest bond market even before formally taking Cabinet office, by firing a sharp-worded slavo to China. Mr Geithner, who has yet to be nominated by the Senate before he can officially become US Treasury Secretary, said that President Obama believed Beijing was illegally manipulating its currency.
Theres some good news out of China too, really

The US President's nominee for Treasury Secretary said the new administration believes China is 'manipulating' its currency.
Geithner gets tough with China over yuan policy

One of London's most successful hedge funds has made 12m in just four days by betting on a fall in the Barclays share price, a move that will heighten the controversy over so-called short-selling strategies.
Hedge fund made millions betting on Barclays crash

Britain's three top lenders need another 80bn of capital to end concerns about their solvency once and for all, stabilising the financial system, according to analysts at investment bank Nomura.
Barclays, RBS and Lloyds need 80bn more in capital, analyst warns

Frits Seegers, the head of personal and corporate banking at Barclays, belatedly admitted yesterday that he had secretly pledged Barclays shares to secure a personal 1 million loan and then compounded the error with a botched announcement.
Barclays executive Frits Seegers makes belated admission of shares pledge

The cost of personal loans has risen sharply since the beginning of the credit crisis amid concerns about borrowers defaulting on their repayments, research reveals.
Cost of personal loans rises amid concerns about borrowers defaulting on loans

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX

End-of-day Market Overview

Have a good weekend traders!