S&P Futures

House price inflation has accelerated over the past month although house prices at the top end of the property market are falling dramatically

UK futures turn negative

Imperial Tobacco said the group was on track to meet its own expectations for the financial year

Profile Therapeutics maker of inhaled drug delivery systems 6 month losses fell to 1.79 million pounds and first-half revenues rose 13 percent to 7.1m

Headlam Group floor coverings distributor reported a 9% growth in annual profit to 32.6 million pounds and said it looked forward to another year of growth.

Spirax-Sarco engineering maker of temperature and pressure controls, met forecasts with a 10 percent rise in 2003 profit to 44.6 million pounds and expected profit growth this year.

BAE rules out Alvis counterbid ..

 Primary Health (I), Alea Group (F), Headlam Group (F), Medical Solutions (F), Profile Therapeutics (F), ROK Property Solutions (F), Roxboro (F), Spirax (F)

Cintas Corporation, Dollar General Corp Tenet Healthcare Corp

13:30 NY Empire State Index 14:30 Capacity Utilization 14:30 Industrial Production

Hochtief AG, Thales, Lagardere Groupe

Croc@SnappyTrader.com  WWW.SnappyTrader.com

Sunday Newspapers

Day trades soar and shares dive, Private investors were again piling into shares as the Footsie boomed. But now the question is being asked - is the party over already? The number of shares traded by private investors in January rocketed by 57% on last year, while last month the volume was 77% up on February last year. Click here for the full story

Shell: The FSA has launched an urgent investigation into whether Shell broke stock market rules by not telling investors earlier that it had overstated its oil reserves by a fifth. The oil giant faces huge fines if it is found guilty of market abuse.AstraZeneca's major shareholders are pressing for more boardroom changes.

THE Budget: 1% VAT increase predicted by experts as a 50/50 chance. It is thought Gordon Brown will be looking at ways to raise extra revenue, and having ruled out income tax rises he is expected to turn his attention to VAT or stamp duty. Some say that it is not thought that he will increase National Insurance until after the next election as it was a manifesto commitment. Yet if he did bring the National Insurance threshold in line with the earnings level for higher rate tax it would gain 459 a year in tax for anyone who earned more than 35,000. The Chancellor is also expected to turn his attention to stamp duty which would enable him to raise extra revenue, while claiming he was acting to cool the housing market down.

SUNDAY TIMES Ireland: Cubic calls for three seats on Man United board Mayflower Corporation Secret approach to ailing British bus maker, Lapthorne approached over top job at BAE General Dynamics tanks outgun BAE to buy Alvis Anglo Irishs FitzPatrick to join Aer Lingus board Hornby starts to pick up speed with expansion Cookson to slim down by selling precious-metals division Indigo Vision shares surge for web firm Canary Wharf Reichmann: is he a hero or a villain? Canary Wharf bid pledge

Shell Transport

Shot in the arm for science Amersham Agenda: William Lewis: Give Bses stock exchange bid a fair hearing London Stock Exchange Enterprise boldly goes into Footsie Enterprise Inns Directors' Deals: Music bosses find sanctuary in sell-off Sanctuary Group Judgment Day: Should you buy shares in Spring? Spring Group Special Report: King of the turf raises stakes Manchester United Why Shell has clammed up  

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH Cox in talks to buy Highway Insurance New chairman for BAE

BAE Systems Hollick tunes into TV Tanks on BAE's lawn

Canary Wharf, Morgan Stanley has revealed it was in "detailed discussions" about changing the structure of its 1.6billion bid and possibly raising it, to fend off Brascan's rival offer.

Baker Greggs Amid fears that many companies will fail to meet earnings expectations, investors have turned to more defensive sectors such as food. Baker Greggs has just achieved a 12th year of growth and shares look good value at 3430p. The advertising industry is seen as an attractive long-term investment as it often grows faster than the world economy. While WPP shares have fallen recently - to 576 1/2p -- profits should increase by 47 million this year. Buy. Xaar, Upbeat results are expected from printing technology specialist Xaar on Wednesday. The group already boasts Toshiba as a major customer and could unveil another significant client at the same time as the results. Shares are a buy at 56 1/2p. Radstone Technology, Defence experts forecast more takeovers after General Dynamics' 309 million offer for tank maker Alvis. Targets could include electronics group Radstone Technology, which should also benefit from more defence spending. Buy at 368 1/2p.

OBSERVER News in brief WPP FSA probes scandal of 'missing' Shell reserves Amec can show Iraq the West meant it

Man Utd to bring critics on board Bad habits at the Abbey

MAIL ON SUNDAY Now FSA probes scandal at Shell Symbian software boss may quit, Levin 'disappointed' at Psion sale Standard Life denies delay tactic Littlewoods profits leap to 210m Retail boost for Barclay brothers

Psion CEO uses his company personal holding to swing Symbian vote. Pressure on AstraZeneca board

TV fat cats 'safe' over 27m payoffs

Labour to admit Equitable failures, Showdown may lead to compensation BAE pulls back from tanks bid, Alvis to fall into US hands 445m offer for retailer DFS doomed, Investors demand 450p-a-share New twist in the Telegraph saga, Black to appeal against sale ban Day trades soar and shares dive, Have the amateurs got it wrong? 100m racetrack plan is under threat, Planestation may go on sale Moss Bros braced for share raid, Clothes group in takeover speculation

Moss Bros is bracing itself for a major sharebuying raid by fashion entrepreneur Kevin Stanford. It comes amid growing takeover speculation and a sudden souring of relations between the company and its biggest shareholder, Shami Ahmed

INDEPENDENT  Bates bounces back and eyes up Leeds Watts may lose his Shell pension

The Week Ahead: What now for Morrisons and its hard-won prize? Daily Mail & General Trust Independent on Sunday

SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY  Rolls-Royce deal safeguards 90 jobs at revitalised MB Aerospace Patience is a virtue as Cairn's oil strike rewards investors ITV non-executive director defies calls to quit amid payoff furore

Weir Group, UK to step up stake in rebuilding Iraq Candover to sell 128m stake in Inveresk Research John Wood Group, UK to step up stake in rebuilding Iraq

SUNDAY EXPRESS  Marks & Spencer is rated a buy at 283p as broker JP Morgan remains upbeat on the retailer's long-term prospects for its home division and near-term prospects for the troubled clothing business. Bovis Homes is well positioned for solid growth, according to brokerage Arbuthnot. Results last week were ahead of expectations and the company is forecasting annual volume growth of 10% this year. Buy at 530p

INVESTORS CHRONICLE Tips: Associated British Foods (ABF) a fundamentally well-run business. Isoft (IOT) group did better than expected in the key NHS IT market. Oxford Biomedica (OXB) a weak player with a limited licensing pipeline and a poor record. Connaught (CNT) a strong order book and its core business is getting help from new legislation.*Landround (LDR) recent drift in the share price is a good chance for new investors to take a look at this travel promotions company. Lincat (LCT) strong product range is capturing market share, underpinning a solid dividend yield.

SHARES MAGAZINE Plays of the Week: Buy iTrain (IRN) at 10.75p - Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) at 94.5p - Cyc Holdings (CYC) at 1.85p - Burren Energy (BUR) at 205p - Pursuit Dynamics (PDX) (long-term) at 115.5p.

Updates: Take profits at UK Coal (UKC). Hold K3 Business Technology (KBT). Sell GB Group (GBG).

Water's Tide Rises on Dividend Prospects: Dee Valley (DVW) - Pennon (PNN) - Bristol (BWG) - Kelda (KEL) - Northumbrian (NWG) - AWG (AWG) - Severn Trent (SVT).

Croc@SnappyTrader.com  WWW.SnappyTrader.com