Asian markets summary

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Hang Seng ended the morning up 110.47 points at 20,792.05,
while Tokyo markets remain closed for a public holiday.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, was up
one cent at $63.20 a barrel from $63.19 in late US trades overnight.

Happy Friday!

G.

Asian economic and corporate news summary

The Friday Press Roundup

CSR buy - target 10000 - Merrill Lynch
BT.A buy - target 325 - Citigroup
NXT buy - target 2750 - Deutsche Bank
TNN reiterated overweight - target 290 from 250 - Morgan Stanley
TOMK sell - target 250 - Goldman Sachs
TOMK reiterated underweight - JP Morgan
ULVR upgraded to buy from hold - target 2550 from 2130 - Citigroup
WMH upgraded to overweight from equal-weight - Morgan Stanley

STOCKWATCH Hanson upgraded to 'neutral' from 'sell' at Goldman SachsSTOCKWATCH William Hill upped to 'overweight' by Morgan StanleyThomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

Morning all. Have a great Bank Holiday weekend.
Where will BARC price go today? I think DOWN but we will have to wait and see!!

LOG downgraded to hold from buy - target 190 - Deutsche Bank

Druid - for what it's worth 'analysts and traders' quoted in this morning's market reports seem to think that Barclays won't get ABN, so it will support the share price. The thinking is that if unsuccessful, they will be vulnerable to a bid. There's a rumour going around that Bank of America are in London today to try and talk to them. JP Morgan have this to say about the situation.

Australian shares close at record highs on resources

BSY reiterated buy - target 680 from 630 - ABN Amro

STOCKWATCH Barclays, ABN Amro kept 'neutral' at JP Morgan, after LaSalle rulingSTOCKWATCH Millennium & Copthorne target raised to 650p vs 430 by Morgan Stanley

Australian shares close at record highs on resources - UPDATE

STOCKWATCH BG Q1 beats hopes, but dealers say most good news already priced in

UK smallcap opening - fountains higher on bullish update

STOCKWATCH ABN Amro downgraded to 'reduce' from 'hold'- Petercam

STOCKWATCH Impresa sharply higher after solid Q1 on advertising, pay-TV revenuesUK smallcap opening - Maypole lifted on satisfactory FY numbers

STOCKWATCH Tesco higher; raised to 'buy' from 'hold' at ABN Amro; tgt up to 602pUK smallcap opening - Vista Group gains after solid FY results, bullish outlook

UK smallcap opening - MicroEmissive Displays better on update

TSCO upgraded to buy from hold - ABN Amro