S&P Futures

mmO2, shares will be very active KPN, the top telecoms carrier of the Netherlands, says it will not rule out a hostile bid for the mobile phone group  after their latest round of takeover talks fell through.

The company is valued at 8 billion and KPN's offer was 10 billion

Ultra Electronics defence and aerospace electronics firm reported a 15 percent rise in annual profits to 34.4 million that were at the top end of forecasts and announced some top level board changes.

Bunzl reported annual profits of 212.3 million pounds up from 20 million . They were in line with forecasts and said it expected volume growth to continue.

Associated British Foods said "Trading remains broadly in line with our expectations at the beginning of the financial year,"

Scottish & Newcastle reported a one percent rise in annual profits and said that trade so far in 2004 was in line with recent trends with consumer confidence remaining weak. They profits before tax of 471 million pounds slightly higher than analysts average forecasts of 465 million pounds.

Symbian, mobile phones software developer reported a 124 percent jump in shipments but said the longer term prospects are positive but remain subject to considerable uncertainty

Jardine Lloyd Thompson the UK's biggest insurance broker posted 2003 profits of 113.7 million pounds at the top end of forecasts but expected results for the next two years to be impacted if the U.S. dollar remained weak.

Egg internet bank said its annual loss doubled as its French business continued to drain money. Losses rose to 34.4 million from 16.6 million in 2002 higher than analysts forecast of about 30 million pounds..Operating profit at the UK business more than doubled to 72.8 million pounds from 34.8 million. There was no news on the possible take over of the company

Old Mutual South Africa's largest insurer said annual profit fell 10 percent to 650 million pounds slightly down on forecasts dragged under by losses at its Nedcor banking unit. Sales were 529 million pounds compared to 557 million pounds in the previous year

Ricardo British auto industry consultant said its UK business had fallen into a loss in the first half due to unusually severe trading conditions, but improved orders in the past two months were encouraging.

 Anglo and Overseas Trust (F), Bunzl (F), Datamonitor (F), Egg (F), Hemscott (F), Jardine Lloyd (F), National Express (F), Old Mutual (F) Pharmagene (F), Provalis (F), Scottish and Newcastle (F), SDL International (F), Stadium Group (F), Ultra Electronics (F), Wembley (F), Provalis (I), Reed Health (I),

Ricardo Group (I), Electra Kingsway (AGM), Phytopharm (AGM),

Raft International (AGM), Treatt (AGM)

Campbell Soup (Q2) Concord (Q4) Lowe's Companies (Q4) Navistar International Corp (Q1) Novell (Q1)  

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