Good morning traders!

In the US last night, indices remained close to even most of the session but closed mixed as a lacklustre day of trading was marked by mixed economic data and limited market-moving news.

The Dow closed off 28.89 points at 10,800.30 with the Nasdaq up just 1.34 points at 2,178.34 and the S&P virtually unchanged at 1,213.55.

In Asia, most markets are closed today although Hong Kong saw a shortened session close with a flourish, up 66.9 points at 14,230.14, as futures traders covered shorts.

Off to search for some news.....back soon

Happy trading!

G.

MARKETS
FTSE 100 4,820.1 up 1.1
FTSE 250 6,923 up 26.7
DJIA 10,800.30 down 28.89
Nasdaq Composite 2,178.34 up 1.34
S&P 500 1,213.55 up 0.10
Nikkei 225 closed for public holiday
Hang Seng 14,230.14 up 66.59
Gold 437.20 (437.72)
Oil - Brent Feb 40.35 usd (39.17)

BREAKING NEWS
* Two more fund managers embroiled in the split capital investment trusts crisis have agreed to restrict their roles in the financial services industry for at least a year, the FSA announced yesterday - The FT
* Housebuilders are facing a big rise in the cost of submitting planning applications under government plans - The FT
* Some senior executives at Royal Bank of Scotland could face criminal charges in the US over dealings with the collapsed energy giant Enron - The Independent

PRESS COMMENT
FT
Lex Column: The US dollar (For dollar bears, buying the euro remains the path of least resistance), (perhaps the safest currency tip for Europeans with US bosses is that it is a bad time to ask New York for a pay rise)
Times
Rumour of the Day: SPORTINGBET (talk that it has seen a further rise in transaction volumes since its first quarter trading statement in November) -
Tempus: 'Tempus Ten end year with a bang despite early jitters' (Reviews performance of its ten tips for 2004; Tate & Lyle, Rank, Lloyds TSB, Imagination Technologies, mmO2, Cambridge Antibody, Workspace, Communisis, National Grid Tranco and BP)
Independent
Shares and Market Report: SPORTINGBET (talk that the group has enjoyed a very strong December), WSP (whispers that business is booming)
Express
Share Whisper: INVERESK (merger talk); Who's dealing (director Kenneth Ross sold 20,000 shares at 427 pence, leaving him with 265,024 or 0.89 pct)

Good morning all on this last day of 2004. Thanks all for making this an excellent thread. 2004 has been a good year and looks as if predictions for FTSE 2005 is in double digits. Happy new year to all.

morning all,hope you all have a great new year !!!!

Morning all,and lets keep the money rolling in and goodluck to all punters.

Morning all

Happy 2005 to all

Morning all,

Hope everyone had a happy 2004 & have a happier and prosperous 2005 :-)

Morning all and thanks to everyone on the thread for all the info
throughout the year!

Greetings from Scotland and here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous
New Year for us all :-)

Hi Everyone, Wishing you all a prosperous and happy new year from windy Surrey!

Always try and have a peek at this thread when im around, so keep it up it's an excellant source of what's going on, thanks. Love Amber xx

http://web.icq.com/friendship/swf/0,,16961_rs,00.swf

Made me laugh :-)

Feliz 2005!

Happy New Year!

Probably spend a quiet evening supping cocoa and nibbling leftovers, but then, maybe not... ;-)

Thanks to you all for making the close of 2004 such a winning experience!

G.

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