AFX UK - at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 5327.5, up 0.69
FTSE 250 7636.6, up 18.8
DJIA 10638.74, up 0.57
Nasdaq Comp 2218.15, up 1.04
S&P 500 1244.12, up 0.71
Tokyo: Nikkei at midday 11,987.36, up 47.16
Hang Seng midday, 15,104.94, down 32.14
Gold 432.65 usd (431.25)
Oil - Brent Sept 60.62 usd (60.44)

BREAKING NEWS
* Buy-out houses in Europe paid shareholders 10 bln eur dividends in H1 - FT
* Adidas has held talks with Reebok over possible merger - FT
* New accounting rules will allow cos to make 'generous assumptions' about pension schemes - FT
* US businesses must treat gay partners same as married couples - Telegraph
* AMVESCAP could be broken up by hostile bid - Guardian
* Cassava Enterprises founders could pocket 700 mln stg from IPO - Independent
* PokerStars moving to Isle of Man before possible IPO - Times

PRESS COMMENT
The Lex Column: BOC (Lates results were unexplosive. Pretax Q3 profit fell 9 pct year-on-year. However, the market had been alert to the causes. More
positively, there was continued strong performance in the gases business, which generates four-fifths of group profits. Investors seeking upside from here will have to look hard indeed for catalysts); Dollar (With investors focus switching back from yield to structural trade concerns, the dollar's strength against the euro may have run its course); Ryanair (Ryanair's cost control will struggle to deliver any margin improvement. Unit costs, up 6 pct over the quarter, would have fallen 9 pct but for fuel. Last June, Ryanair warned of a winter "bloodbath" for the airline sector. Its prediction may just have been a year early.); Alliance & Leicester (The yield is a fat 6 pct, but yesterday's 7 pct rise, down from the 10 pct increases of past years, leaves investors with little to look forward to)
Times
Rumour of the Day: RENURON (Understood to have delayed pricing of its IPO in order to meet with a new batch of potential US investors. Seeking to raise 10 mln stg in deal that would value business at 30 mln stg) Smaller stock to watch: ADWALKER (Shares ticked up 2 pence to 10 yesterday after the maker of electronic sandwich boards made debut on AIM) Tempus: ALLIANCE&LEICESTER (The shares are worth holding for the yield, but not much more); Ryanair (has proved a formidable competitor in a difficult environment but there is little obvious value in the shares); PZ CUSSONS At 11.90 stg, PZ Cussons trades on a 14 times forecast earnings multiple, mitigated by a 3 pct dividend yield. Hold.)
Telegraph
Questor: ALLIANCE & LEICESTER (Stay away from A&L for time being); MORGAN CRUCIBLE (At 203-1/2 pence, the shares trade on 15 times earnings and although there is no dividend yet, it's worth picking up a few more even at these levels); NESTOR HEALTHCARE (At 11 times forward earnings with a prospective yield of 1.5 pct, Questor can see no reason to buy)
Independent
BOC GROUP (Still fairly priced as long-term investment); PZ CUSSONS (Shares look too pricey)

BPB rejects Saint-Gobain's unsolicited proposal of a possible offer

Morning all.

Thanks Greystone & Digger.

This thread must have a lot of "lurkers". If you are a lurker can you please say "Hello".

Looks as if no one reads this thread then.

Hello Druid2, Greystone and Digger,
Sorry I usually look in but do forget to say hello,
will remember my manners in future.
;>)

hello

OHH ERR I hope that's got nothing to do with taxidermy?
;>)

Great - nice to hear from you all.

Unilever interims tommorrow. Any views? I have a small spreadbet to rise thisweek based on the current chart and a good result.
Frodo

frodo - Pundits don't seem to expect anything exciting tomorrow.

There is a Unilever teleconference starting at 10am(UK) in the morning you might find interesting.

General public (listen only) From the UK call: 01296 311650 - pin no. 215578#

Good luck!

G.

Thanks Greystone. Its made a good novice spreadbet. Not to jumpy. I will be pleased if i get back some of the losses since monday. Got a tight stop loss just in case.

Frodo

Good luck frodo!
:>)

Actually ended up positive on todays rollover. A five point rise tommorow and Ill be even. I tried to hedge at 2.30 by going short on the ftse daily cash, just as Rio Tinto bulls were returning from a late lunch.
Frodo

Fingers crossed frodo! I'll be sure to put the ULVR chart in the header for morning... :-)