For me, and many other BBers, this is Crocodile Day.



It is amazing that it is a year ago since we lost our good
friend David Anderson. I know a lot of you will want to take
time out today for a quiet reflection on David's legacy.

It is plain to see that his far-sightedness still plays a big
part in the life of the Bulletin Boards. His advice and his
skill and enthusiasm for trading remain the major driving
force for many traders.

For those of you who did not get the opportunity to meet
David, I know you will appreciate how important was his
input to the private investor community.

I have lost track of the number of times people have said
to me over the last year, "I wish I'd known him"

I'm proud to say that I did.

Greystone

Hello traders,

In the US tonight, stocks stalled as investors looked to lock in profits after recent big gains. Sharp declines in General Motors, after another debt downgrade to 'junk', kept blue chips in negative territory.

Heading into the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 14 points at 10,509. The Nasdaq Composite recouped earlier losses and was last up 5 points at 2,061 and the S&P500 added 1 point to 1,194.

See you in the morning with updates....

G.

Good morning traders!

In the US last night, The Dow Jones Industrial Average eventually closed down 19.88 points at 10,503.68. The Nasdaq Composite, however, recouped earlier losses and to finish up 4.97 points at 2,061.62 marking its eighth consecutive winning session. The S&P500 closed up 0.21 points at 1,194.07.

In Asia this morning, the Hang Seng ended the morning down 114.0 points at 13,605.32, off a low of 13,585.74 and high of 13,717.07. The Nikkei was last trading down 119.51 points at 11,014.14.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, was three cents higher at $49.70 a barrel from its close of $49.67 in New York yesterday. In the US it rose 51 cents on the day.

A busier reporting day ahead.

Kesa Electricals is expected to reveal a slowdown in trading at Comet.

GUS is expected to announce a 13% increase in underlying profits.

SCOTTISH POWER DOWNGRADED TO 'UNDERWEIGHT' FROM 'EQUAL-WEIGHT' BY LEHMAN

Back later with any breaking news.....

G.

Thanks Mr G,it was only 3 weeks before the great man passed away that i had the pleasure to sit with him in his trading room!!!! David,my friend you are missed.


Rick...

UNIQ CUT TO 'SELL' VS 'NEUTRAL' AT MERRILL LYNCH

INVESTEC INITIATED AS 'IN-LINE' BY GOLDMAN SACHS

BPB ADDED TO MERRILL LYNCH EUROPE 1 LIST

SAGE UPGRADED TO 'BUY' VS 'NEUTRAL' AT MERRILL LYNCH

AFX UK at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 4,982.5, down 7.3
FTSE 250 7,001.7, up 14.7
DJIA 10,503.70, down 19.90
Nasdaq Comp 2,061.62, up 4.97
S&P 500 1,19.05, up 0.20
Tokyo: Nikkei closed at 11,014.43, down 119.22
Hang Seng midday 13,605.32, down 114.0
Gold 417.85 usd (418.15 usd)
Oil - Brent July 48.82 usd (48.37 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* OECD warning for Europe; call for cut in eurozone interest rates; growth forecasts for UK and other economies reduced; fears over global imbalances - FT
* SCOTTISH POWER to sell PacifiCorp, its underperforming US arm, to a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway for 5.14 bln stg
* Hutchison Whampoa to buy MERCHANT RETAIL, the UK business behind The Perfume Shop; it is paying 197 pence a share for the company, valuing it at 221.9 mln stg

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on SCOTTISH POWER (7 pct share price rise looks justified; and, given that a smaller Scottish Power makes a more likely takeover target, there might be a little further to go), VODAFONE (there might yet come a day when big deals return - except that Vodafone would do the selling), MARKS & SPENCER (Green will certainly not feel the need to offer 400 pence a share again), Asian economies - ICAP (a tad rich) - CRANSWICK (the shares could run further yet)
Express
WH IRELAND (gossips reckon JP Morgan Fleming's 8 pct stake has been picked up by CHARLES STANLEY) - LIONTRUST (vague takeover talk)
Guardian
REGUS (rumours that Commerzbank has been offloading stock)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: EMAP (buy), CELSIS (wait and assess any deal before deciding whether to buy), GREAT PORTLAND ESTATES (hold)
Times
DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: SOCO INTERNATIONAL (director buys shares for 47,800 stg) - WOLVERHAMPTON & DUDLEY BREWERIES (talk of refinancing) - TEMPUS: SCOTTISH POWER (hold), GREAT PORTLAND ESTATES (hold), ELECTRA INVESTMENT TRUST (should be bought)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: VODAFONE (hold on), EASYJET (long-term, they still have further to travel), HOMESERVE (no harm in taking profits)
Mail
AG BARR (Investec buy)

Morning.

AVE - profit warning?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700026987M.html

GEN - trading update
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700037024M.html

CMG - interesting
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700047041M.html

CSY - trading update in line
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700047047M.html

CFN - nice trading update, good looking chart
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700077081M.html

CSW - forecasting good profitability. Hmm
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700087091M.html

KESA - 'Comet's performance in the first quarter reflects the difficult market
conditions in the UK. The company has already reduced its cost base and will
take further action if these conditions persist.
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250700137120M.html

IEG - suspended
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200505250730016911M.html

Don't see much else of interest out there personally.

Morning all.

Greystone - Thanks for your "Crocodile Day" comments above. I did meet Croc. twice and he was a great person. He is sadly missed by all.

Good Morning all,

A year gone already - I too was with MB at Crocs and miss all the help he used to give. I made myself watch BBC1 last night about the single mother who died from Bone cancer at 16. Life is so precious

Mks dropping like a stone

Hardly surprising is it LW. Still working hard and enjoying it? Your posts missed on the site.......need someone to talk KCOM higher :-))
opto

long ARM @ 107.75 s/l on

I have a feeling Croc was up there taking the pee today. :-)

Off to raise a glass to him.

See you in the morning.

G.

G

Am also raising a glass to David! ;-)

Been watching housebuilders today too and grabbed a few short on RDW in the auction in what might hopefully be true Crocadilian fashion. I'll let you all know in the morning. BOTs galore there - he'd have enjoyed them.

Nice to see so many carried on trading. That would've gone down well methinks. He'd have hated a day to go to waste if there were opportunities. ;-0

To the guy who taught most of us something - cheers!