Good morning traders!

Official close figures in the US last night showed the Dow 18.8 points up at 10,566 with the Nasdaq Composite ahead 5.88 points to 2,074.92, while the S&P500 gained 2.67 points to 1,206.58.

In Asia this morning, the Hang Seng just ended the morning session down 62.81 points at 13,851.49 and the Nikkei was last up 46.64 points at 11,462.52.

Crude oil was trading at $55.57 a barrel, unchanged from its New York close.

Back with UK news in a moment...

Happy trading!

G.

NORTHERN FOODS INITIATED AS 'UNDERWEIGHT' BY LEHMAN, TARGET 145 PENCE

SABMiller, Heineken seen making new proposals to buy Colombia's Bavaria

WHITBREAD UPGRADED TO 'BUY' VS 'NEUTRAL' AT MERRILL LYNCH

Somerfield bid process delayed as due diligence drags on

BP CUT TO 'IN-LINE' VS 'OUTPERFORM' AT GOLDMAN SACHS

SHELL UPGRADED TO 'IN-LINE' VS 'UNDERPERFORM' AT GOLDMAN SACHS