London shares outlook - slightly higher as investors digest a mixed close in

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

BROKERWATCH Bovis Homes cut to 'sell' from 'buy' at Citigroup; tgt 565p vs 740

The Thursday Press Roundup

STOCKWATCH ITV seem higher as Competition Commission report sparks bid hopesBROKERWATCH Mitchells & Butlers cut to 'underweight' at JP Morgan

Why is there only one Competition Commission? Anyway, they're recommending BSkyB (BSY) reduce their stake in ITV to below 7.5% and they can't sit on the board. Looks like BSY will be booking a fat loss on their corporate shenanigans, good job Murdoch-the-younger's not around any more to be tainted by it. Coincidence? You decide. BSY say they have received the report but they will read it later. Northern Rock has apparently failed to stop its leading shareholders having an EGM but there's no word yet on whether the bank will be able to afford the tea and biscuits if it's held.

Bovis Homes (BVS) has been cut to sell from buy - target 565 from 740 - by Citigroup. They've also cut targets for Barratt Developments (BDEV) , Berkeley Group (BKG) , Persimmon (PSN) and Taylor Wimpey (TW.). Details here. Enterprise Inns (ETI) have been cut to neutral from overweight at JP Morgan. LogicaCMG (LOG) has a couple of big downgrades this morning from Merrill Lynch and Lehman (28% price target reduction). Don't know the specifics yet.

Recruitment group Harvey Nash (HVN) say they are still trading in line with expectations and plan to pay off its bank loan a year early. Clipper Windpower (CWP) are talking delays and additional costs due to a previously identified 'supplier quality deficiency' which they call "teething" issues. They have a new order though. Contentfilm (CFL) have recorded their fourth consecutive half-year of profits, and although most of their figures are lower it probably doesn't matter because there's an indicative bid in at 20. Skyepharma (SKP) seem to have escaped from commitments for R&D spend on Flutiform, but at the cost of lower milestone payments.

FTSE is currently being called up 11 at 6295 by CMC. Dow futures are down 10 at 13,197. Australian shares were down for the seventh session in a row.

Tokyo shares close little changed on profit-taking - UPDATE

UK smallcap opening - Solar Integrated climbs on 70 mln usd contract win

UK smallcap opening - Contentfilm higher on cash offer hopes

UK smallcap opening - McBride down on higher raw material costs warningUK smallcap opening - Inspace up on 183 pence per share cash offer news

UK smallcap opening - Lavendon gains on 'strong' 2007 performance hopesUK smallcap opening - I-Mate slumps on swing to H1 pretax lossLondon shares open higher, as ITV jumps on renewed bid hopes, NY ended lower

UK smallcap opening - Augean up as it buys Hitech Equipment for max 7 mln stg

UK smallcap opening - Qonnectis up on Leakfrog commercial launch

UK small caps open slightly lower; McBride down on raw material cost warning

London shares open higher, as M&A speculation aids gains; NY ends lower UPDATE

STOCKWATCH Vodafone gains as SFR confirms bid for Neuf CegetelMetals - Gold steady above 800 usd; platinum remains close to record highs

Metals - Copper rises as inventories fall, traders square positions

Metals - Copper rises as inventories fall, traders square positions UPDATE

STOCKWATCH WPP Group higher; Deutsche Bank bullish, price target 850 penceMetals - Gold steady above 800 usd; platinum remains close to record high UPDATE

London shares - midmorning features