Gold

S&P &Futures (Click for latest)

Hang Seng -161

Nikkei -73.8

The Dow was unable to find any direction finishing down just 1.5 points. Uncertainty about the economy and corporate earnings, overshadowed enthusiasm over a possible quick end to the war. The FTSE is expected to fall as investors once again focus on the global economy and expectations of weak company profits. The budget is at 1130 GMT, is set to be a major market and is expected to include a downward revision in the UK economic growth and public deficit forecasts.ICI: CEO Resigns to be suceeded by John McAdam who is currently an Executive Director of ICI Paints. Shares may well rise later on the news.

Matalan: profits up 9 percent but were under analysts forecasts due to the slowing growth in the retail market as it continues its expansion. Pre-tax profit was up nine percent to 117.4 million pounds on turnover up 21 percent to 1.021 billion pounds.Brambles: Isaid it is looking at acquiring Hays information management business as part of a growth strategy.Powderject: Investigators said they had found "no link" between them winning a 32 million pound smallpox vaccine contract and donations to the Labour partyBAA:  said it handled 9.7 million passengers down 3.1 percent on last year due to the war n Iraq and effect of SARS on long haul flights. BAY ??Canary Wharf: is to be ejected from the FTSE 100 share index next week to make way for the two firms formed by the demerger of Six ContinentsBritish Airways: More airline bad news as Qantas said it will lay off 1,000 staff, about three percent of its workforce due to the war in Iraq & SARS

Autonomy said it expected its first quarter 2003 results to be in line with the market consensus.

Calendar All GMT	United Kingdom (F)inals (I)nterim	United States (Click Flag)	Europe & World
Wed 9th April	James Beattie, St Ives (I), Austin Reed (F), Matalan (F) 09.30 February global goods trade 12.30 Budget 2003	Abbott, Gentech	07.00 Germany March final CPI m/m 07.00 Germany March WPI m/m 11.00 German February industrial orders
	Ex Dividend: Alliance & Leicester Plc 26.9 , Alliance Trust 40.5, Barratt Developments plc 4.94, IMI Plc 9.5, Meggitt PLC 4.75  Provident Financial Plc 18.44, RMC Group Plc 21.8, Rank Group Plc 8.8, Rathbone Brothers 16, Reed Elsevier PLC 8
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