Alan is away for a couple of days so it falls to me to fill the gap.

The lacklustre performance in the UK was offset a little by the afternoon session in the US which saw the Dow close up 46 points at 10,851.51. The volatility of the UK market over the last few weeks has offered great opportunities for traders who can see both the long and short side of the market. Long may this continue!

The advance of the oil majors and minnows seems unabated but the Crude oil price has softened again tonight so will we see some weakness tomorrow in this sector? I hope not too sharp a correction, as I am a little bit over exposed myself on some minnows!

What goes up must come down. Except maybe the U.S. trade deficit. Today the U.S. recorded a record trade deficit of $617.7 billion, or 5.3 percent of GDP for 2004, this compares with a deficit of $496.5 billion, or 4.5 percent of GDP in 2003. Is this sustainable, a question that is asked year in and year out and the answer seems to be a resounding yes.

The weakness of the dollar against the Euro and Yen would normally stop the growth of the deficit, so the continued deficit growth points to the fact that the U.S. economy is growing faster than either Europe or Japan. So what? Well the theory also goes that the stock market should now be underpinned at these levels.

Well its Friday and the end of the week is nigh. Do not forget its Red Nose Day, so do your little bit where you can to help the less fortunate.


Mike
Bullshare

Morning all...

Morning, after a year or so away from trading, I went long in Neteller some weeks back, I have closed that now and have nibbled at Sportingbet yesterday at 3.15

long ARM 111 s/l on

Morning all

Morning all.

long BUR 506 s/l on

covered BUR +3.5