MARKETS
FTSE 100 4,703.9 down 24.8
FTSE 250 6,657.6 down 3.9
DJIA 10,494.20 up 53.60
Nasdaq Comp 2,126.11 up 11.45
S&P 500 1,182.80 up 5.75
Tokyo: Nikkei 10,776.63 down 164.74
Hang Seng midday 13,992.38 down 29.94
Gold 435.82 usd (452.25 usd)
Oil - Brent Jan 38.69 usd (38.27 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* Saudi Arabia says oil stocks need to increase before Opec can cut output - FT
* JARVIS facing threat of legal action over alleged delays to the completion of a private finance initiative project as part of an 80 mln stg contract with Richmond council in south-west London - FT
* KIDDE prepared to open its books to United Technologies Corporation after the US conglomerate tables a revised cash offer of 165 pence a share
* Lenovo buys IBM's PC unit for 1.75 bln usd
* Terry Green, the boss of Allders, close to securing financial backing for an attempt to buy the struggling department store chain - Times
* MINERVA facing an uphill fight to sell Allders, the department store chain it bought in February last year, after putting it up for auction - FT
* John de Mol, the Dutch entrepreneur, amasses a 5 pct-plus stake in HIT ENTERTAINMENT
* ARLA FOODS agrees a merger with Dutch counterpart Campina

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on IBM, STANDARD CHARTERED (further share price rises seem unlikely - unless, of course, the bank itself becomes an acquisition target), TeliaSonera, Porsche (for now, the bears look set to remain in the driving seat) - KELDA (look to have done their dash for the time being) - STAGECOACH (not cheap but many analysts feel they still have further to go) - EQUATOR EXPLORATION (set to list on AIM today)
Times
RUMOUR OF THE DAY: API GROUP (dealers hear that Steel Partners has lined up buyers for API's converted products unit, which makes clear plastic film) - DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: SPIRITEL (chairman buys debut 14,000 stg stake) - TEMPUS: Housing market holds the key to share performance, HAMMERSON (buy), COBHAM (hold) - BRITISH LAND (hopes its new chief executive may contemplate sale of the flagship Broadgate site and the return of cash to shareholders)
Telegraph
QXL RICARDO (speculation it could itself become the centre of a bidding war), IFX (dealers speculate property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz has bought 1.06 mln shares, 3.7 pct, at 96 pence each) - QUESTOR: STAGECOACH (stay aboard), KELDA (ideal with mug of cocoa), JESSOPS (worth a shot)
Express
WHO'S DEALING: WS ATKINS (chief executive buys stock) - SHARE WHISPER: PETROCELTIC (talking up its Algerian prospects to Irish brokers) - BROKER'S VIEW: ISOFT GROUP (Shore Capital buy)
Guardian
TATE & LYLE (Compagnie Industrielle decides to sell its 10 pct holding) - GW PHARMACEUTICALS (gossips reckon Canada is poised to grant approval for Savitex) - PURSUIT DYNAMICS (Dairy Crest deal speculation)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: KELDA (hold for dividend potential), HELPHIRE (hold), INTERNATIONAL GREETINGS (buy)
Mail
GEEST (revived gossip that Bakkavor is putting the finishing touches to a mouth-watering 650 pence-a-share offer) - QXL RICARDO (rumours of an imminent counter bid)

Morning punters!

TFL - losses widen, Xmas critical, but bullish
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700041670G.html

CSY - space contract
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700051833G.html

TRS - good trading statement. Have these on the long list and wondered why they moved
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700051862G.html

THB - hurricanes and $
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700051853G.html

DSC - property sale 1.3m over book value
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700111911G.html

PDL - how do you assess a diamond miner's results?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700131916G.html

IQE - sounds interesting
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700131919G.html

ZYT - results look good, $ hedged
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700131923G.html

DET - met upgraded forecasts FY, big divi hike
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700181938G.html

GNK - good interims, but has it had its run?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700191942G.html

AAT - not impressive, chart been going down for months, but they're bullish
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700271954G.html

CPU - doing well
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700111905G.html

DYS - back to profits
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700111909G.html

SFU - interesting little platinum mob
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700101899G.html

BWG - it's all down at interims, but chart been going up. Never did know how to value these things ;-)
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200412090700071875G.html

Can't see much more of interest so you lot have a cracking day!

Morning all.

Morning all.

covered BDEV +5

covered SOF +2 +2.5 +3 :-))))

covered more SOF +2 :-))))

Morning all,

MB still doing well day trading.

lw,it is going the right direction :-) how are you these days,well i hope !!!

covered last lot of SOF +1.75 :-))))

Morning All,

Shock news with TATE.....but what a buying opo.

IMHO.

long WTB 836.5 s/l on

RIO bouncing back nicely.

SSE right shoulder formation being made?

RIO seems to have stopped going up (famous last words) so out +13.

played Stan !!!

covered BBY +1 pays for a cup of tea :-)

Sold SEG+17.

Thanks MB going OK today...so far.

long SOF 155.25 s/l on see if we can get a biscuit to go with the cup of tea :-)

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Trader of the Year(Prize - Case of wine kindly sponsored by Boyse)