Pre Market Futures  07:45 am

FTSE +17

DAX +12

DOW -29

S&P -2

NASDAQ -2

News Headlines: War breaks out in Iraq.

The military campaign against Iraq is under way, after explosions rock Baghdad at dawn. .....George Bush says the war may be longer longer than expected an the the Pentagon said it was a "decapitation attack" to take out Saddam before the planned start of the war. Soldiers in Kuwait have just been told to use gas masks.

The DOW & S&P finished higher following reports that the U.S. had conducted air strikes on artillery positions across the Iraqi border from Kuwait. However the Nasdaq finished lower after Oracle warned. Allianz said it would launch capital measures to raise five billion euros, including a 3.5-4.0 billion euro rights issue to strengthen its weakening capital base. The move, announced at the same time as confirming a 1.2 billion euros net loss for 200.

Cobham aerospace and defence engineer posted a better-than-expected 11 percent rise in underlying annual profits on Thursday and said it would continue to exploit its niche markets.

Selfridges year profits grew 8.2 percent and sales in London were holding up. For the year profits of 40.7 million pounds, compared with forecasts of 38.5-43.5 million pounds.

Wishing you all the best for the day ahead.    david@FTSEDOW.com       www.FTSEDOW.com