LONDON (AFX) - Leading shares are tipped to start the session lower as a lack of news and a further spike in the price of oil prompts investors to cash in profits after blue chips flirted with 4-1/2 year highs yesterday, dealers said.
Spread bettors CMC Markets expect the FTSE 100 index to open 11 points lower at around 5576 having closed yesterday at 5,587.4.

MARKETS
FTSE 100 5,587.4, up 39.5
FTSE 250 8,664.0, up 67.9
DJIA 10,833.70, up 28.20
Nasdaq Comp 2,231.6, up 9.24
S&P 500 1,262.80, up 3.20
Tokyo: Nikkei closed at 15,941.37, down 16.20
Hang Seng midday 15,174.90, down 46.52
Gold 494.10 usd (502.30 usd)
Oil - Brent Feb 56.72 usd (56.17 usd)

TODAY'S PRESS
* HILTON GROUP has received at least three approaches from private equity groups (BC Partners, Blackstone and CVC Capital) interested in its Ladbrokes betting shop chain in a deal that could potentially value it at 3-4 bln stg, including debt - FT
* Saudi fighter jet deal boost BAE SYSTEMS; Kingdom to buy Eurofighters under agreement that could be worth 10 bln stg; planemaker's shares hit a three-year high; record oil revenues fuel purchase - FT
* High Court dismisses claims against Sir Tom Hunter by GADGET SHOP shareholders - FT
* TESCO could overtake BOOTS within five years as the biggest seller of health and beauty products - Mail
* BRITISH AIRWAYS plans to attack 1.4 bln stg pension hole - Express
* PROVIDENT FINANCIAL staff forced to double contributions to retain pension - Independent
* Flue pandemic: new doubts over key drug; studies show resistance to Tamiflu - Guardian

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on Oil (a more realistic assessment of oil companies' available resources is needed - by including, for example, oil sands and uncontracted gas reserves; at this pivotal time, that, at least, would help investors move beyond preconceptions)
Mail
CMR FUEL CELLS (dealers expect it to leave its placing price of 176 pence well behind when dealings get underway on AIM today)
Express
LONDON CAPITAL HOLDINGS (dealers expect brisk trading at today's market debut) - SHARE WHISPER: EMI (Warner rumoured to be mulling over a 300 pence-a-share approach, but EMI may also attract private equity interest)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: AEGIS (avoid), BRITISH POLYTHENE (hold)
Guardian
MINERVA (market professionals believe a stakebuilder is at work) - TRIFAST (stakebuilding rumours)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: OLD MUTUAL (sell), BRITISH POLYTHENE (worth holding), BIOQUELL (buy)
Times
Directors' dealings: VANCO (three directors sell stock for a combined 941,800 stg) - Rumour of then day: COMMUNISIS (fading hopes that a firm offer will be made) - TEMPUS: AEGIS (not worth chasing), F&C ASSET MANAGEMENT, HENDERSON (of the two, prefer Henderson), WYEVALE GARDEN CENTRES (buy)

morning campers

Morning All,

BUR. SP reacting positively to todays statement, also oil price up over In NY last night.

Midday Market Summary

good afternoon all! ;-)

Think "all" are down the pub LW

...and why not ;-)

End-of-day Market Summary

stan - the place to be