Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei was up 57.39 points at 9,607, while the Hang Seng
reached the midpoint up 233.38 points at 17,771.75.

Crude oil traded at $68.49 a barrel on Nymex.

Happy trading!

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

China could face censure at the WTO after America and Europe lodged a joint complaint today over its restrictions on raw materials exports.
China and US head for trade war

Brussels turned up the heat on Britain yesterday over the Governments plunge into the red as a result of the recession and the banking crisis. The European Commission classed Britain alongside the struggling Irish Republic and stricken Latvia.
Europe warns Britain of dangers of rising debt

Ministers will announce a crackdown on Britains biggest banks next week, putting pressure on them to reorganise or face a blitz of more onerous capital and liquidity rules.
Banks told: restructure or face tougher rules

Threadneedle Street's chief economist, Spencer Dale, calls for a wider range of policy tools to tackle asset bubbles and financial crises.
Interest rates insufficient for regulating economy, says Bank of England

Traders are using software developed by US-based technology StreamBase to monitor "tweets" for price sensitive information. The software plugs into Algorithm-based automated trading platforms that have been used by traders for years. But rather than searching Reuters or Bloomberg the software now scans Twitter.com.
Hedge fund managers betting Twitter will give them an edge in rapid trading

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX	GOLD	NYMEX CRUDE

BRBY Credit Suisse: initiated neutral
DRX Citigroup: upgraded to hold from sell
JJB Citigroup: upgraded to buy from hold
KESA Seymour: reiterated hold
LAND Credit Suisse: upgraded to neutral from underperform
MARS UBS: upgraded to buy from neutral, tp cut to 139 from 160
SMIN Morgan Stanley: resumed overweight, tp 825
UBM Morgan Stanley: reiterated equalweight, tp cut to 500 from 550

Twitter Updates
more >>

Midday Market Overview

are KCOM ex div today? halifax info would suggest yes but forward diary says nothing.
1.0p payable 7 aug

unless i missed something earlier re divi

anyone follow this stock enough to help off top of head, please
Alex

Alex, from KCOM results:-

"Subject to Shareholder approval at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 24 July 2009, the final dividend will be payable on 7 August 2009 to Shareholders registered at the close of business on 26 June 2009."

So yes, ex div today.

End-of-day Market Overview