Gold

S&P &Futures (Click for latest)

Hang Seng-125.39

Nikkei -118

Traders went on a buying spree in early trading as the troops in Baghdad signalled a quick end to the war was near. However realisation soon spread that most of this positive war news was already accounted for in the price of stocks. By the end the US equities just managed to hang on to a positive finish. European markets are now expected to open down in the morning with the FTSE set to lose about 50 points.

For those Ex Dividend Players ahead of Wednesday: Alliance & Leicester Plc 26.9 , Alliance Trust 40.5, Barratt Developments plc 4.94, IMI Plc 9.5, Meggitt PLC 4.75 Provident Financial Plc 18.44, RMC Group Plc 21.8, Rank Group Plc 8.8, Rathbone Brothers 16, Reed Elsevier PLC 8

Marks & Spencers: said sales were up one percent on the year ago period in the 11 weeks to March 29. Clothing, footwear and homewares -- fell 0.4 percent during the period. Like-for-like food sales were up 2.6 percent during the period. Expected annual group profit before tax and exceptional items at the top end of market expectations. But future growth prospects look limited?

Tesco's: annual profit at top of forecasts with year profits of profit of 1.401 billion pounds compared with analysts forecast profits of 1.337-1.399 billion pounds. Turnover grew 11.5 percent to 28.6 billion pounds.

JJB Sports <warning> said trading remained tough as it posted an 18 percent fall in annual profit and added it did not expect a buyout bid from its founder for several weeks. Profit before tax and goodwill fell to 90.3 million pounds .against Analysts' consensus forecast of 90 million pounds. The scepticism over its purchase of discount retailer TJ Hughes and increasing competition fro the new Decatholon super sports stores make the future of this stock bleak IMO

Abbey National said it plans to cut 700 jobs in the next three years as part of its restructuring. BAT has bought a controlling stake in Peru's leading tobacco company, Tabacalera NacionalBAE SYSTEMS could be influenced by news that Airbus had shipped six fewer planes than Boeing in the first three months of 2003. US Airways cut an existing order for 19 of its planes to 10 due to the industry slowdown. BAE owns a 20 percent stake in Airbus

Calendar All GMT	United Kingdom (F)inals (I)nterim	United States (Click Flag)	Europe & World
Tue 8th April	LA Fitness (I), JJB Sports (F),  TESCO (F) Intermediate Capital (I), Carr's Milling Industries (I) Corin Group, Robotic Technology Systems Marks & Spencer Trading update	12.45 BTM/USBW sales 13.55 Redbook 15.00 Feb wholesale inventories & sales 23.30 ABC/Money consumer confidence	11.00 German Feb industrial production
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