Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei was up 28.9 points at 7,978.03, while the Hang Seng
ended the morning up 197.3 points at 13,075.39.

Crude oil fell 8 cents to $48.59 on Nymex.

Happy trading!

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

The Times
The Times (Need to know)
FT
The Guardian
The Independent
This is Money

Economists have hailed the first convincing glimmer of hope that the American housing market may have finally turned the corner.
Hope springs at signs of life in US housing market

The number of houses started by builders in the United States rose unexpectedly by 22 per cent in February to 583,000, up from 477,000 in January.
American housebuilding rise divides economists

Britains economy is set to keep shrinking well into next year, even after all or most of its leading competitors have begun to enjoy renewed growth, the International Monetary Fund will warn this week.
UK recession will drag into 2010 as others recover, says IMF

Hopes that the scale of the slump in Britains battered housing market may be easing were boosted today as official figures revealed price rises for some types of home.
Glimmer of hope eases house price misery

Financial Services Authority chairman Lord Turner today unveils his review and recommendations of the banks are regulated to ensure the financial crisis is not repeated.
Lord Turner's review prepares to revolutionise banking

Mervyn King became the first British policy maker to float the idea of forcing the separation of the "casino trading" of investment banking from high street banks tonight as he called for a shakeup of the City.
Banks may be forced to choose between savers and 'casino' trading King

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday unveiled a draft plan to provide up to Y1,000bn ($10.1bn) in subordinated loans to large commercial banks, in the latest effort by a key central bank to stem the global economic crisis.
BoJ eyes $10bn in loans to banks

Paulson & Co spent $1.28bn buying Anglo Americans stake in gold miner AngloGold Ashanti on Tuesday as the New York hedge fund moved from betting against banks to betting against governments.
Paulson & Co go for gold

A wave of popular anger over the $165 million (118 million) in bonuses received by executives of American International Group (AIG) is threatening to engulf the insurance company and cause deep damage to President Obamas infant Administration.
Armed guards at AIG offices after death threats over bonuses

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX	GOLD	NYMEX CRUDE

End-of-day Market Overview