NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX	GOLD	NYMEX CRUDE

AQP Citgroup: hold, tp 148
DEB Citigroup: reiterated buy, tp raised to 75 from 70
DSGI Citigroup: reiterated hold, tp raised to 40 from 20
ETI UBS: downgraded to neutral from buy, tp raised to 120 from 100
HFD Citigroup: reiterated buy, tp raised to 380 from 290
HMV Citigroup: buy, tp 150
HOME Citigroup: reiterated hold, tp raised to 260 from 190
INCH Citigroup: reiterated buy, tp raised to 20 from 16
JJB Citigroup: upgraded to hold from sell, tp raised to 20 from 1
KESA Citigroup: reiterated buy, tp raised to 150 from 120
KGF Citigroup: reiterated buy, tp raised to 200 from 160
MKS Citigroup: reiterated hold, tp raised to 320 from 220
NXT Citigroup: upgraded to buy from hold, tp raised to 1700 from 1150
PMO RBS: upgraded to buy from add
PRU BarCap: cut to underweight from equalweight
SGRO UBS: downgraded to neutral from buy
SIG Citigroup: upgraded to buy from hold, tp raised to 1400 from 950
SMWH Citigroup: buy, tp 440
SN. Citigroup: buy, tp 618
SN. Morgan Stanley: underweight, tp raised to 484 from 479
SPD Citigroup: upgraded to buy from hold, tp raised to 90 from 50
STAN Goldman: upgraded to conviction buy from neutral
TSCO JP Morgan[HB]: underweight, tp 300
TSCO UniCredit: upgraded to buy from sell

Midday Market Overview

Really good thread this. Some more tools, charts and vid's at http://www.tradinghelpdesk.com A new site but a good'un.

PCM

I personally will tell you get lost, to uncle SAM
reason - someone is trying to get emails for FREE

        TODAY'S BUDGET

1253 Mr Darling says loss-making companies will be able to reclaim more taxes on profits made in the last three years.

1252 A lack of mortgage credit is holding the housing market back, Mr Darling says. The stamp duty "holiday" for properties worth less than 175,000 will be extended to the end of the year.

1248 He promises 260m of extra money to help young people acquire more skills and training.

1247 The chancellor says it will take time for unemployment to start falling. He announces 1.7bn to help jobseekers and says that the long-term jobless will get additional support via the Flexible New Deal.

1245 Inflation is expected to come down to 1% at the end of this year, the chancellor says.

1244 Economic growth of 1.25% is predicted for next year.

1243 The UK economy is expected to contract by about 3.5% this year, the chancellor says, including 1.6% in the current quarter.

1241 There are no quick fixes or overnight solutions to economic problems, the Chancellor says.

1239 Mr Darling says the average family with a tracker mortgage has saved more than 230 a month, due to interest rate falls.

1237 The chancellor says that, for the first time since WWII, the world economy is expected to contract this year.

1235 Mr Darling says he expects the economy to start improving later this year.

1234 Mr Darling says the current crisis is global. He says the mistakes of the 1920s and 1930s will not be repeated. The Budget will build on substantial steps already taken, he adds.

        TODAY'S BUDGET

1322 Mr Darling has stopped speaking - the speech lasted approximately 50 minutes.

1322 The total annual limit for ISAs will increase to 10,200.

1321 The winter fuel allowance will be maintained at a higher level for the coming year.

1319 Grandparents looking after grandchildren will, for the first time - where they are of working age - have their efforts acknowledged in the state pension, Mr Darling says.

1318 From April next year the child element of the child tax credit will increase by 20, the chancellor says.

1317 The chancellor promises 405m to advance green manufacturing.

1315 Mr Darling says he will announce plans later to reduce UK carbon emissions by 34% by 2020.

1312 Mr Darling announces the setting up of a 750m investment fund for emerging technologies.

1311 Mr Darling says strengthening the banking system is crucial to the economy. He adds that construction firms will get 500m of extra finance to help them borrow to build more homes. Armed forces accommodation will get 50m to accelerate improvements.

1305 The government will make savings while increasing spending on schools and healthcare, Mr Darling says.

1302 A 50% income tax rate for those earning 150,000 or more a year will come in from April next year.

1300 The chancellor says pensions tax relief will be restricted for those earning more than 100,000 a year.

1259 The Budget deficit is expected to halve in the next four years, he says.

1258 Government borrowing will be 175bn this year, some 12.4% of GDP, the chancellor says.

1255 The recession has hit tax revenues, Mr Darling says. Tax as a share of GDP is 1.2% lower than last year as a result, he adds.

1254 There will be a 2,000 discount from next month on cars bought where the owner scraps another car more than 10 years old.

I assume that the 2,000 discount for cars is restricted per household otherwise I'm off to buy 100 old bangers for a few quid and then reap in the 2,000 each to start a new car sales business :o)

End-of-day Market Overview

Link to Budget 2009 Budget Report April 2009