NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei closed down 105.79 points at 13,925.51, while the Hang
Seng ended the morning up 315.84 points at 24,799.68.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, rose 29 cents
to $99.93 a barrel.

Happy trading!

G.

OUTLOOK Redrow set to report weaker margins for H1, clearer view of FY prospectsOUTLOOK Aviva FY profit seen 6.6 pct lowerOUTLOOK Mondi FY pretax profits seen ahead on higher paper pricesOUTLOOK Market anticipates BAT's next cost savings plan; profits likely in lineOUTLOOK Trinity Mirror solid FY to be overshadowed by deteriorating outlookOUTLOOK Royal Bank of Scotland FY profit seen 9.5 pct higherOUTLOOK Bayer Q4 opg seen rising 20 pct on higher drugs, pesticides salesOUTLOOK Ladbrokes FY earnings boosted by high roller telephone activityOUTLOOK Rentokil Initial FY profit seen slightly higher after recovering H2Australian shares close lower as banks lead broad-based sell-off - UPDATETFN economic and business calendar

TFN UK calendar and forecasts for today

Hello testing out this news BB site

Kyoto...Hello there...do you see a profit taking sell off on the Dow today or Friday?

Best wishes

Bongo

Tokyo shares close lower on weak industrial output, stronger yen

BROKERWATCH Enterprise Inns upgraded to 'overweight' by Morgan StanleyThe Thursday Press Roundup

BROKERWATCH HBOS cut to 'sell' from 'hold' at Citigroup; target 600p from 725

*AVIVA POSITIVE ABOUT UK OUTLOOK IN 2008

Bongoman - the Dow's likely to be news driven today and tomorrow - GDP and Jobless Claims today at 13:30 UK time, Personal Income and Spending tomorrow, 13:30, Michigan Confidence at 15:00. Depends on the figures, I'd think.

London shares outlook - lower, as NY ends mixed; RBS FY results in focus

BROKERWATCH ITV upgraded to 'neutral' from 'underperform' at Credit Suisse

Thanks Kyoto...What I was suggesting was possibly as the Dow has had a good run recently despite all economic data , are we seeing a technical relief rally or a geniune rally which can hold as the market looks forward and decides that the dark days or credit are passing?

Bongo

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

Bongo - when we were pulling out of the bear market five or six years ago, that's a question that was being asked a lot. But we only knew the answer months after it became clear that the recovery wasn't yet another 'bear market rally'. The Dow has had a good run recently, but it there's a case which says that the Credit Crisis has gone through its worst, the Fed are hinting at another 50 basis-point cut, and unless another bank/credit market blows up, what's left to provide the downward catalyst? Maybe a recession if it takes hold, but will it? Unfortunately, if I knew the answer in these types of situations - rather than all the questions - I'd have retired years ago :-)

STOCKWATCH Bayer lower pre-bourse as Q4 bottomline numbers disappointTokyo shares close lower on weak industrial output, stronger yen - UPDATE

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London shares open lower, after mixed NY close; RBS slips on FY numbersUK smallcap opening - Avis Europe adrift on cautious outlookUK smallcap opening - Hill Station edges up on clarificatory statement

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