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A less volatile session on the US indices as the latest earnings results failed to provide any direction however all the major markets finished positive close to the days high.

Sage said that it saw pre-tax profit for the half year around 74 million pounds, up 14 percent on last year, in line with market expectations. UK & US sales were strong but European sales week.

Big Food Group (Iceland & Booker) said sales had slipped in the fourth quarter of its financial year, but said it was making progress in slow markets. Group like-for-like sales fell 3.6 percent in the 13 weeks to March 28, having seen sales drop by the same amount in the third quarter to December 27. hmmmm!

Moody's cuts Corus rating by 4 points which reflects the situation regarding the extension of its credit facilities in view of continued operating losses and further restructuring requirements

AstraZeneca could rise following a study suggesting that its Crestor drug could be even more effective than the most widely prescribed drug in lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. sBP , SHELL could dip after crude prices fell heavily again in the U.S. British Airways is set to react to traffic figures for March which will show the effect of the War in Iraq and SARS The Nationwide Building Society said house prices rose by an unexpectedly strong 1.9 percent in March from February to stand 26.2 percent higher than a year earlier. U.S. jobless claims data due at 1330 GMT, and a U.S. non-manufacturing purchasing managers report at 1500 GMT are expected to give a good clue on the state of the U.S economy. Could be a volatile time for the FTSE

Calendar All GMT	United Kingdom (F)inals (I)nterim	United States (Click Flag)	Europe & World
Fri 11th April	Television Corporation (F), Big Food Group Sage Trading Statement British Airways Figures for March	General Electric 13.30 March retail sales & March PPI 04.45 April preliminary Michigan Sentiment	07.45 France March preliminary CPI 08.00 Spain March CPI m/m
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