Morning all. Friday's market reports:

Telegraph
The Times
The Times (Need to know)
FT
The Guardian
The Independent
This is Money

Saturday

Britain may have to go to the IMF for a huge financial bailout, the influential investor George Soros warns today. The man who made $1 billion on Black Wednesday in 1992 told The Times that Britain was particularly vulnerable to the economic crisis.
George Soros: Britain may have to seek IMF rescue

The deputy governor of the Bank of England warned yesterday that the financial crisis could wreak further damage and that there were dangers in rushing to overhaul regulation.
BoE's Tucker warns crisis has further to run

"U.S. commercial banks lost $9.2 billion trading in cash and derivative instruments in the fourth quarter of 2008 and for the year they reported trading losses of $836 million. The poor results in 2008 reflect continued turmoil in financial markets, particularly for credit instruments."
US commercial banks lost $9.2bn on derivatives trades in Q4 08

Standard Chartered Bank said that gold could extend its decline, citing trading patterns and forecasting that the metal may drop to less than $900. The resistance level represents a 76.4pc retracement of the metals drop from the near-record high of $1,032 an ounce to the low of $883.90 on March 18, said David Barclay, the banks commodity strategist, referring to a number that is part of the Fibonacci sequence.
'Gold price to fall below $900'

The chief executive of financial bookmaker IG Group has called the recent stock market gains a "false rally" and predicted the FTSE 100 and Dow Jones will tumble almost 30pc
FTSE 100 and Dow Jones predicted to tumble 28pc

The Association of Investment Companies said half of active investors it questioned were planning to increase their stock market exposure over the next few months, up from 38 per cent this time a year ago.
Investors 'ready to return to stock market'

Banks will be smaller and their employees will have to get used to being paid less under the UK's blueprint for regulatory reform, Lord Turner, the chairman of the Financial Services Authority has said.
FSA sets scene for banking crack down

If Tim Howkins, the chief executive of IG Group, was any more bearish, he'd have fur growing on his back and be brandishing claws. "About 18 months ago, 40pc of our revenue came from clients trading single shares but that is now running at 15pc to 16pc," he said. "Clients are either moving to trade in indices, or are sitting on the sidelines and waiting for bull markets to return."
Tim Howkins profile: 'Spread-betting is a game of skill not chance'

Sunday

The president of Brazil's attack last week exposed the growing rift between the west and the world's emerging powerhouses over how to tackle the global crisis. This week in London's Docklands the G20 leaders will meet for a crucial summit. But what can it achieve?
'Blue-eyed bankers' prompt G20 divide

Underwriters are refusing to provide credit insurance cover if companies do not provide three to six months of recent trading data. Insurers, who previously relied on annual accounts, are also threatening to slash the amount of cover available to existing customers as fears mount that there will be more corporate collapses in the recession.
Insurers refuse credit cover without latest figures

The Dunfermline Building Society, Britain's 12th-largest, was last night on the verge of break-up after racking up millions of pounds in losses through what a minister called "reckless" decisions.
'Reckless' building society on verge of break-up

Monday

Gordon Browns plans for a $2 trillion (1.4 trillion) New Deal to revive the global economy have been quietly dropped to preserve the facade of unity as world leaders gather in London for the G20 summit.
G20 unity spells end of Browns 'New Deal

President Barack Obama has voiced optimism that this weeks crucial G20 summit will set the framework for recovery, saying that leaders know they must deliver a strong message of unity on the global economy.
Obama calls for G20 unity

The Spanish government has launched a 9bn (8.4bn) bailout to rescue the first financial institution that is on the brink of collapse since the beginning of the credit crunch. Savings bank Caja Castilla La Mancha (CCM) had "liquidity problems" that forced the intervention from the Bank of Spain, Finance Minister Pedro Solbes said.
Spain launches a 8.4bn bailout to rescue a stricken savings bank

Britain's residential property market has shown early signs of recovery in March, as landlords have bought more properties than they sold for the first time in two years. At the same time, the monthly rate of decline in house prices slowed to its lowest rate in 10 months, and the average percentage of the asking price being achieved by sellers increased for the first time in almost two years.
Housing market fall shows signs of slowing

Russia has become the first major country to call for a partial restoration of the Gold Standard to uphold discipline in the world financial system.
Russia backs return to Gold Standard to solve financial crisis

The oil industry is bracing itself for a wave of consolidation as cash-rich companies acquire more vulnerable rivals that are struggling after the collapse of the price of crude, analysts say.
Collapse of crude prices heralds wave of oil industry consolidation

One third of Chinese executives surveyed by Deloitte last week said they are planning to make large strategic acquisitions, with a further 29pc in the market for "bolt-ons". Nearly all the 23 top-level Chinese executives questioned said technology companies are a key area of interest.
Two thirds of Chinese companies looking to snap up British businesses

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX	GOLD	NYMEX CRUDE

scania320 - 29 Mar 2009 19:00 - 5 of 8

please can you teach me where and how i can purchase this warrants .
i have always bought fiscal shares and lost my life savings in two banks
just trying to rebuild from all mistakes of past.


Teaching people how to trade warrants isnt easy. you have to do a mental juggling act between time, gearing and value. and the short dated warrants are very risky.
Put as simply as I can...
Warrants can be traded INSIDE an ISA, so all the obvious advantages.
you do need to know what a warrant actually is so instead of me ging you the blurb (which of course is subject to my interpretation!) I have 2 very good links for you (and anyone else) to look up
Soc Gen Explanation you have to look through the menu on the left and there is a lot of guff that I'm afraid you will have to filter!
I actually think that this next one is clearer.
Barclays Explanation

you have to sign an understanding contract with your broker and once you have done all that you can trade online. I think Hargreaves are the only ones that you have to do a phone call. One thing you have to look out for is discrepancies in the price. MMs dont seem to monitor the prices as they should and sometimes you can get a bargain. I have in the past bought warrants for 1p when they should have been 5p, and banked the resultant profit smartly. Warrants are definitely for trading, do NOT hang onto them once the profit is there! Longdated ones that are not so time volatile are the best at the moment unless you are feeling particularly lucky!
If you can, see if your broker, or indeed any other broker is offering a Covered warrants workshop. If they aren't ask them if they will, or have a look round for anyone who does. the time invested there will pay you well!

I hope this helps

SM

Good advice SM but there is a big difference between Covered warrants and Investment trust warrants.
Covered warrants are more risky than Investment trust warrants.

Midday Market Overview

porky,

yes - There is a big difference but I only trade Covered warrants, so thats all I can speak about. At the end of the day there isn't a trade without risk. So you pays yer money and takes yer choice!

What my mentioning of them has done is increased the interest. Often I find that its only me and my partner trading some warrants.... in the whole country!

NAG and DYOR etc...

SM

End-of-day Market Overview