Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow Jones was down 226.76 points at 8,148.69, heading
into the close, with the S&P500 off 28.96 points at 845.13 and the Nasdaq
Composite down 50.5 points at 1,507.84.

See you tomorrow with the latest...........

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

The prospect of a trade war between the US and Europe is looming after "Buy American" provisions were added to President Barack Obama's $820 billion (573 billion) stimulus package.
US-EU trade war looms as Barack Obama bill urges 'Buy American'

President Barack Obama let rip at troubled Wall Street banks yesterday for paying out billions of dollars in bonuses to staff, accusing them of displaying "the height of irresponsibility" and of letting down the American people.
Obama lets rip at banks over executive pay

The Bank of England must ask for consent from the Treasury if it wants to print money to expand its facility to buy troubled assets.
Bank must check with Treasury over troubled assets

A "fair price" for oil is between $60 and $80 a barrel, the secretary general of Opec, Abdullah al-Badri, told participants at the World Economic Forum yesterday, up to twice as high as the current price in the market.
Fair oil price would be twice as high, Opec says

Oil producers' cartel tells World Economic Forum its members need a higher price if they are to have sufficient income to invest.
Opec warns of further oil output cuts

Leading shareholders in Xstrata are threatening to vote against a $6 billion (4.2 billion) rights issue after the Anglo-Swiss miner signed a separate sweetheart deal with its largest investor.
Xstrata faces rights issue revolt over Glencore deal

South Koreas government on Thursday brought the countrys stock exchange under state control, a move that could derail Seouls ambitions of becoming a regional financial hub and spark a legal battle with the bourse.
Seoul brings exchange under state control

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX

Citigroup downgrades AstraZeneca (AZN) to hold from buy, and cuts its target price to 2800p from 3100p, following FY '08 results and disappointing '09 guidance. Says weaker expected '09 EPS growth, +4%, and smaller forex gains remove the key drivers of the buy case. Says the shares remain defensive, but sees more upside as more limited even in difficult market. Shares closed at 2,680p.

Dow Jones News

Morgan Stanley upgrades UK property stocks as investors appear to be pricing in rights issues. Sees more risk in continental Europe than the UK as there is a chance the euro is set to weaken relative to sterling during '09. Upgrades British Land (BLND.LN) to equalweight from underweight, has 340p price target. Ups Brixton (BXTN.LN), Hammerson (HMSO.LN) and Land Securities (LAND.LN) to overweight from equalweight, keeping price targets at 110p, 480p and 640p, respectively. Ups Liberty International (LII.LN) to overweight from underweight and keeps 330p price target.

Dow Jones News

AZN upgraded to buy from hold - Deutsche Bank