AFX UK at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 5,344.3, up 29.6
FTSE 250 7,673.9, down 6.6
DJIA 10,536.90, down 21.10
Nasdaq Comp 2,164.39, down 13.52
S&P 500 1,223.15, down 3.25
Tokyo: Nikkei 11,900.32, up 121.34
Hang Seng midday 15,127.57, up 18.63
Gold 436.40 usd (437.90 usd)
Oil - Brent Sept 62.70 usd (61.07 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* Oil price nearing 65 usd mark; Iran faces UN sanctions over resumption of N-programme; warnings of terrorist strike in Saudi Arabia; capacity problems at US refineries - FT
* London Stock Exchange signals a clampdown on their fast-growing Alternative Investment Market for smaller companies by issuing its first public rebuke of a nominated adviser, DURLACHER, for breaching the rules - FT
* Prices at the factory gate rose unexpectedly last month as manufacturers passed on the soaring costs of raw materials, which increased at their fastest rate in 20 years, according to official data - FT
* MARCONI confirms it had held talks with potential bidders - FT
* Mittal Steel considers spending 350 mln usd on European plant - FT
* MARKS & SPENCER sells ill-fated Lifestore for 43 mln stg
* CENTRICA buys stakes in four North Sea gas fields to help shore up its supplies for its millions of British Gas customers - Telegraph
* EMAP ordered to sell digital platform to seal SRH deal - Independent

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on STANDARD CHARTERED (deserve their 35 pct premium on 2006 earnings to the European banking sector), Valuation multiples, Spring/ProSieben, Baidu.com - MORGAN SINDALL (p/e of 11 times looks a little mean for a low-risk growth company)
Times
RUMOUR OF THE DAY: JURYS DOYLE HOTEL (talk that two white knights are set to table counterbids to the 17.50 eur bid by Precinct Investments) - DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: EASYJET (director sells 15,000 shares at 277-1/4 pence) - TEMPUS: EASYJET (on an expensive prospective p/e of 18 and there is no dividend safety net; pass), CENTRICA (buy on weakness), MORGAN SINDALL (hold)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: STANLEY LEISURE (about right for now), MORGAN SINDALL (still worth buying), MANAGEMENT CONSULTING (definitely worth a look)
Guardian
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (reports that it is one of four foreign investors poised to take a 6 bln usd stake in Bank of China) - RANK GROUP (rumours of a break-up bid)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: Morgan Stanley raises not of caution for UK life assurers; LOOKERS (park it in your portfolio), MANAGEMENT CONSULTING (only for the brave)
Express
SHARE WHISPER: ULTRASIS (investors wager on a positive update later this week) - WHO'S DEALING: PENDRAGON (director buys 3,327 shares for 117.2 pence each)
Mail
ULTRASIS (speculation that its Beating the Blues flagship computerised behaviour therapy package is on the verge of a major NHS breakthrough) - EMBLAZE (rumours suggest that a deal with Disney could be next)

Morning all.

Will BARC reach 590 today?

Hope so Druid, then I'll consider getting out....2 hours to go.

Afternoon All - hope the day is going well :>)