S&P Futures

The US indexes fell back erasing most of Monday's gains on some concern ahead of the jobs report on Friday.

ITV said it was on track to achieve 100 million pounds of cost cuts, with the advertising market more stable. It said its advertising revenue was down two percent in calendar 2003 due to a lower viewing share.

Friends Provident life assurer said annual profit fell 13 percent to 266 million pounds , in line with expectations, and said it was slightly cautious about first-half trade in Britain.The group proposed a 2.1 percent increase in total dividend per share to 7.4 pence.

JD Wetherspoon reported a 9% rise in first-half profits to 27.8 million pounds and said its founder and executive chairman Tim Martin will step down to non-executive chairman in April. The results were in line with expectations.

RMC concrete reported an eight percent fall in annual profit to 133 million pound that met forecasts and said prospects for its troubled German market remained uncertain

Lastminute.com said it had made a recommended offer worth about 55 million pounds for rival Online Travel Corporation

Biotrace International maker of environmental monitoring, quality control, research and the detection of airborne biological weapons reported a 64 percent jump in annual profits of 3.3 million pounds Sales rose 59 percent to 19.9 million pounds and recommended a 20% increase in the dividend payment to 1.15 pence per share. Yummy!

Gallaher Group tobacco reported a 9.8 percent rise in 2003 profits ahead of forecasts to 501 million pounds. It added that current trading during the early months of 2004 had started well and was in line with expectations.

Rathbone Brothers fund management and banking group said that annual profit rose 7.5 percent to 19.7 million pounds, ahead of expectations, as stock markets recovered and funds under management increased.

Westbury housebuilder said its 2003 results would be in line with its expectations, delivering an 11th year of profit and dividend growth.

A&J Mucklow (I), Next (I), Quayle Munro (I), Wetherspoon (I), Biotrace (F), Devro (F), Flying Brands (F), Friends Provident (F), Gallaher (F), Glanbia (F), Harrier Group (F), ITV (F), Lorien (F), Marlborough Stirling (F), Oxford Biomedica (F), Rathbone Bros (F), RMC (F), SHLGroup (F), Stilo (F), Wetherspoon (F)

(Tentative) Rolls-Royce (F), (Tentative) SMG (F)

UK Feb service sector PMI (09:30)

AutoZone (Q2), Costco (Q2), Toys R Us (Q4)

3.00pm ISM Services 7.00pm Fed's Beige Book

Ex Dividend,Pence, Yield %:  Avesco 2p 3.89%, Carclo 0.4p 3.68%, Cassidy Brothers 0.75p 6.47%, Colefax Group 1.34p 4.07%, Courts 1.10P 2.04%, EMI Group 2p 3.20%, Intelek 0.12p 1.6%, MITIE Group 1.10p 1.86%, Park Group 0.33p 2.48%, Peel Holdings 4.80p 1.73%, Cussons 8.05p 2.60%, Scottish & Southern Energy 11.30p 5.26%, First Choice Holidays 3.40p 3.44%, Reckitt Benckiser 14.00p 2.01%, Imperial Chemical Industries 3.50p 2.71%, Parkdean Holidays 3.00p 2.12%, Terrace Hill Group 0.15p 0.98%, Crest Nicholson 7.50p 3.09%, Eurocopy EUP 1.13p 4.00 %, Domino Printing Sciences 3.09p 2.45%, Electronic Data Processing 1.66p 3.59%, London Scottish Bank 4.30p 4.84%, Sanctuary Group 0.40p 0.76%,

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