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Hello traders!

US stocks closed with sharp gains tonight after a strong manufacturing report touched off buying of such Dow components as Wal-Mart Stores, ExxonMobil, AIG, and Home Depot.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 68.36 points at 10,371.8, the S&P 500 up 10.55 points at 1,204.99, and the Nasdaq Composite up 21.38 points at 2,078.75.

Bullish day ahead........?

Happy trading!

G.

AFX UK at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 5,190.1, up 5.8
FTSE 250 7,407.4, down 27.1
DJIA 10,371.80, up 68.40
Nasdaq Comp 2,078.75, up 21.38
S&P 500 1,205.00, up 10.55
Tokyo: Nikkei closed at 11,603.53, down 13.17
Hang Seng midday 14,165.09, up 40.29
Gold 423.15 usd (427.65 usd)
Oil - Brent Aug 58.29 usd (57.94 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* CBI chief calls for rates cut; business leaders put Bank of England under pressure; fears grow over falling retail sales, weaker profits and housing market - FT
* Accusations that Jon Asgeir Johannesson, chief executive of Baugur, embezzled millions of pounds through a complex series of transactions involving a stake in Arcadia, the UK retailing chain that owns Top Shop, figure prominently in a police indictment of the retail magnate, his lawyer says - FT
* MARKS & SPENCER considering introducing lingerie for women who have had breast cancer surgery - FT
* BARCLAYS' 2.9 bln stg bid for Absa of South Africa hits an eleventh-hour hitch as the High Court in Johannesburg postpones a ruling on the deal for 24 hours after a campaign group files for an injunction - Mail
* BRITISH AIRWAYS considering dropping M&C Saatchi as its advertising agency - FT
* High price of oil prompts Treasury to postpone the introduction of an increase in fuel duty - FT
* Slot machine software house Cyberview Technology due to announce its listing on London's AIM, to raise 22 mln stg, valuing the company at 90 mln stg - FT
* IMI close to Polypipe sale - FT
* RHM slices the price of its flotation on the London Stock exchange; the food group will be valued at between 875 mln stg and 975 mln through a placing with institutional investors, instead of the 1 bln to 1.3 bln indicated initially - Express
* Asda cuts 1,400 managers in fight to stay No 2 grocer - Guardian
* Classic FM owner threatens to block new digital stations; GCAP considers high court challenge to regulator - Guardian
* Primark (ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS) left to bid for Littlewoods after New look pulls out - Times

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on ABN Amro's acquisition of the Priory, BP (if the apocalyptic crude predictions prove true, oils will be a rare bright spot in a weaker equity market this winter, Aluminium, Capitalia (with the shares on almost 20 times forward earnings, there is little room for disappointment; but Capitalia's management deserves investors' confidence)
Mail
BELLWAY (hopes to share in the Olympic dream) - MITCHELLS & BUTLERS (vague rumours of a private equity bid)
Express
Trevor Webster adds CENTER PARCS to his 2005 portfolio - BIOTROLL (dealers expect a healthy debut today) - SHARE WHISPER: ADDWORTH (said to be closing in on two acquisitions which could add significant value) - WHO'S DEALING: ROMAG HOLDINGS (chairman sells 4.73 mln shares at 77 pence)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: CRH (remains a buy), NORTHGATE (buy), LA TASCA (tuck in) - XANSA (talk that a global IT services company might be taking a look with a view to bid)
Guardian
MITCHELLS & BUTLERS (talk it has teamed up with PUNCH TAVERNS to launch a break-up bid for the 2,000-strong pub estate of Spirit Group)
Times
RUMOUR OF THE DAY: FOSECO (talk that this week's first-half trading update is likely to lead to upgrades to forecasts) - DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: ROMAG HOLDINGS (chairman sells stock for 3.6 mln stg) - TEMPUS: RHM (avoid), NORTHGATE (buy), WILLIAM HILL (a solid hold)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: WILLIAM HILL (only a hold), PREMIER FARNELL (there is a little more risk now, but the value is better than ever), NORTHGATE (hold)

Good afternoon all,

no news from the BBC?