morning all,

long ARM BLND CTM SOF DAX S&P

see you all at the open

Mega...

Sterling Energy, the AIM-quoted oil company, said it has been chosen as a strategic partner of the Mauritanian government and as such will get a share in the revenues from the government's 12% interest in the 120 million barrel Chinguetti offshore oil field.

MARKETS
FTSE 100 4,583.4 up 18.9
FTSE 250 6,277.0 up 35.4
DJIA 9,888.48 up 138.49
Nasdaq Comp 1,928.79 up 14.75
S&P 500 1,111.10 up 16.30
Tokyo: Nikkei 10,691.95 up 19.49
Hang Seng midday 12,879.38 up 27.03
Gold 425.72 usd (428.22 usd)
Oil - Brent Dec 51.56 usd (50.78 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* Documents obtained by the Guardian disclose how BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO was able to put private pressure on Tony Blair and a cabinet minister who wanted to hold an inquiry into allegations that the firm was colluding with criminals
* Barroso's EU team braced for rejection; UK Tories could be pivotal to future of leadership - FT
* World economy will face higher prices than in the past decade as more oil comes from "politically unstable" countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, and production costs rise, the International Energy Agency warns - FT
* Allan Leighton steps down from a clutch of boardroom positions and refuses to rule out his interest in J SAINSBURY - FT
* Opposition parties increase pressure on the government to water down the gambling bill - FT
* Bush campaign suffers as Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, blames massacre of Iraqis on coalition neglect - FT
* COLLINS STEWART TULLETT considering legal action against ICAP after the rival inter-dealer broker poached 26 staff from its Hong Kong and Singapore offices - FT
* Iclandair increase stake in EASYJET to 10.1 pct
* BOOTS poaches one of TESCO's 'young turks'; Scott Wheway, 38, lured from Tesco as retail director and will play a key role alongside Richard Baker, the Boots chief executive, in the battle to revive the fortunes of one of the best-known names - Telegraph
* Malcolm Glazer seeking 500 mln stg debt to clinch MANCHESTER UNITED; US tycoon's plans raise fears club could be plunged into bankruptcy - Telegraph
* UNIQ gets fresh bid approach

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on BP (with industry cost pressures proving to be less selective than investors, perhaps it is time for BP's premium (to SHELL) to narrow), PeopleSoft, Dassault Systemes, News Corp (it is time for investors to move on) - WPP GROUP (about right until the uncertainties surrounding the climate in the US next year are clearer) - FRIENDS PROVIDENT (discount to LEGAL & GENERAL will look fair until Friends proves it can integrate Lombard and investors know how it will fare in creation of new panels of providers by independent financial advisers) - WESTBURY (worth holding on to) - BAT (IMPERIAL TOBACCO thought to have better prospects) - REGENT INNS (trading is still tough but if the turnround story has any legs, the shares are still cheap)
Times
RUMOUR OF THE DAY: GKN (murmurs it may have attracted predatory interest from the US) - DEAL OF THE DAY: WSP GROUP (director buys 100,000 shares at 222-1/2 pence) - N BROWN (talk of family buyout) - TEMPUS: WPP (buy), JESSOPS (do not subscribe), WESTBURY (buy)
Express
N BROWN (talk the Alliance family is considering taking it private) - WHO'S DEALING: DTZ (CEO sells 20,000 shares at 176-1/2 pence) - SHARE WHISPER: LONDON ASIA CAPITAL (reckoned to be involved in the refinancing of Ofex and could see several of its investee companies list on the junior market) - BROKER'S VIEW: SINGER & FRIEDLANDER (sit tight - Numis Securities)
Mail
ITV (Greg Dyke-led consortium bid talk) - INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DEVICES (starts trading on AIM today; dealers expect healthy premium)
Telegraph
GKN (talk that US peer Delphi is mulling an offer at up to 270 pence; TOMKINS also cited as a possible bidder) - SSL INTERNATIONAL (Dresdner Kleinwort rumoured to have placed about 4 mln shares for a large seller, while Morgan Stanley understood to have picked up the stock) - QUESTOR: FRIENDS PROVIDENT (probably better value elsewhere in the sector), WESTBURY (still worth a punt), TTP COMMUNICATIONS (one to watch, but too pricey to buy)
Guardian
STERLING ENERGY (talk the company is working on a fundraising) - BRITISH LAND (City traders claim that incoming chief executive has been meeting BL's biggest shareholders, promising to review all options, including the sale or demerger of non-core assets)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: BAT (hold), HITACHI CAPITAL (buy), TIBBETT & BRITTEN (fair value)

Morning all,if ever there was a window of opportunity,,its here good luck all!!

Morning!

NCC - a tech company, newly listed and generating cash? Now that's interesting.
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700005039E.html

NOP - drilling on the Isle of Wight
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041027070000P203C.html

SHP - FDA approval
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041027070000P5A67.html

CNA/TLW - CNA buy gas fields
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041027070000Z6039.html

CEL - Q3 results - look OK to me
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700025049E.html

IND - losses not as lareg as forecast. Chart looks interesting
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700025055E.html

MMG - could fly today on this?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700045066E.html

FCD - OK trading statement
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700045074E.html

OXS - seems fine
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700055091E.html

GFRD - more work
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700055096E.html

MTM - some interesting comment on YOO in there too
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700055097E.html

KBC - not the best trading statement
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700085105E.html

TLW - more southern gas
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700095110E.html

BLH - interesting outfit
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700115115E.html

IPR - acquisition
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700125118E.html

ROC - Angolan PSA
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700175141E.html

SSW - BID!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700195148E.html

GET - joint venture with chickens! ;-)
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270700215154E.html

HEV - got 10% of the NOP deal - didn't know that
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270730045106E.html

Of the big names ULVR looks poor, whilst STJ seem bullish.

..............and finally, for our resident ramping, pump and dumper Hil

SEY - some place called Mauritania ;-0
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200410270704395155E.html

Have a good day. I've seen most holdings pull back a bit the past week or so, but hoping for some moves the right way today for longs in AQP, BDH, BTSM, MNA and PCI

Al
;-)

Good morning all.

long RTR 372

Morning all

Hoodless Brennan.....?*!!***?????!!!!!!! Right now thats off my chest! Couldnt print on here what I think, yesterday i tried to do online transaction, told me I had bought x amount of shares click yes to confirm wait and then throws me out and said cant execute. so i phone them and they buy the shares telling me its my computer. I asked if someone could phone me back then as i could get nearly to the end of the transaction so couldnt understand what the problem would be. A call back to confirm they bought the shares but nothing about the problem. Today desperate to sell some shares and they are falling...after 4 attempts i phone them. Obsolutely no way will they help me sell the shares as i have an online account and i had a problem yesterday and it is with my computer. I'm like yikkkks, I'll speak to a supervisor then...no you cant they are all in a meeting. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU TODAY SORRY. After another 10 mins and im told to go and use someone elses terminal????? she finally gets hold of someone that will JUST THIS ONCE help me but that i will not be able to trade until i sort it out, but they offer me no help as to what the possible problem is. I found that so incredibly rude, unbelievable really, bearing in mind they're the only ones earning from my trading :>) Ive been meaning to open another account but couldnt decide which one so now I better hurry up. I was warned recently about HB and to change now i know why. Anyway Amber, take the rest of the day off and de-stress! Just thought id share that with you, oh yes Morning everyone

amberjane.
I just moved to Barclays because of on line problems with Abbey National. Its worth a look as the first 50 trades are free and only 7-50 after that if you trade regularly. I got the link from Money AM.
I have tried to add it here but it isnt working. I will try again in a moment.Graeme.

http://www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk/?usecase=freetrades_landing2&category=whatweoffer"

Amber, I'm surprised by your problems, as I never seem to have any (especially as I
recommended them to you!) Have a word with Mark Rayden (020 7510 8649)whos the
online accounts manager. I must admit I always ring him direct.

amber - I have been trading 0nline with Barclays Stockbrokers for several years with no problem at all. They have an excellent website which is fast and also good research information.

Amber
I had problems with a broker and changed to com-direct who have been superb, telephone and trading platform. You also get your exit fees back when you transfer from another broker. If you have cash to use immediately , your account can be opened online in ten minutes!

Afternoon.

Time to move your account, amber!

Jules - use Comdirect, but only online. Quick, simple system IMO.

Big AL ....I agree :-)

I agree with you too and have used comdirect for equity and SIPP account for years and they have always been very professional. They also always reply to any queries really quickly and efficiently. However, although they were originally one of the cheapest (12.50), obviously it isn't the best on offer now. They also charge the same rate for phone orders. Incidentally, when I transferred my account, they didn't reimburse the full costs as I expected, as there is a maximum per account, which I didn't think was that clear.

Barclays Stockbrokers charges on line 12.00 per deal (1 to 10 deals per quarter) and 7.50 per deal (11+ deals per quarter)

Hiya everyone, sorry went out for the day as HB didnt even offer me to trade by phone for the day or any help on what the problem may be. Seemed very shortsighted as the more trades i do they get the commission so to just tell me I couldnt trade seemed bizarre to me. But to be honest the panic of not being able to sell when I wanted was 'orrible so after the stress i wanted to go out. thanks for all your recommendations, comdirect is one i've been looking at but also at Olympia GNI had a stand and had a good chat with them. Also spoke to e-trade but they never got back to me, obviously not interested in my little pot! Will decide this week but then i have the hassle of moving the funds. Barclays looks worth a look as well so many thanks. and Jen thanks i'll make sure i check out the transfer costs.

LW - suprised? well everyones experiences are always different and thats great for you that you've never had any problems but i never want to be in that situation again. The girl seemed so unaware of the need to be able to trade at that moment and was certainly unwilling to help, I thought she was joking! Where's the backup and support and when i said i wanted to make a complaint and speak to someone else she told me i couldnt! It's not the first problem ive had and they always seem to be against you, not helping you. I mean for Gods sake I'd rather trade on line which is why i have the account than phone them, then they make me feel bad coz I have to. Anyway nuf said.

Anyway hope i didnt lose out on anything else by not being able to trade today, better go and check, fingers crossed!