Forex rebates on every trade - win or lose!

Hil, I seem to recall that you sent me a pic of your goodself in the pool. You were stripped for speed I think. Shall I post it on here? :)

No, that wasn't me, DelBoy. That was Kylie.

:o)

Did you mean this photo, DelBoy?



It was a hot summer's day in the garden as I remember.

Your turn now.

( TF ) 04/11 15:26
OUTLOOK Coming week to bring signs of weaker UK economy


- LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The coming week is predicted to bring more signs of a weakening economy especially in the retail and the housing sectors at a time when price pressures remain elevated.

The week will be a busy one and also likely to show that the job market remains sturdy despite signs of weakness elsewhere.

On the whole, the data will once again highlight the problem facing rate setters at the moment -- how to steer interest rates at a time when the economy is clearly slowing but when inflation is surging.




MONDAY, APRIL 14


March producer prices are predicted to remain high. Output prices are seen up 0.7 percent month-on-month and 5.7 percent year-on-year. The core rate which excludes more volatile items is seen rising by 0.3 percent from the previous month and 3.0 percent from a year ago. Input prices, meanwhile, are seen rising by 2.3 percent from February for an annual rise of 19.3 percent. 'Inflation pressures are likely to continue at every level of producer prices,' said David Page citing surges in. commodity prices throughout March.


TUESDAY, APRIL 15


Sales on UK high streets are expected to have slowed down further in March as confidence levels droop. BRC's March retail sales monitor is expected to show like-for-like sales which strips out changes in floor space rising by a paltry annual rate of 1.0 percent, down from 1.5 percent the previous month.


RICS March house price survey is seen showing a further deterioration with fewer and fewer surveyors reporting price gains. The reported prices balance is seen worsening to -67.0 percent from -64.1 percent the previous month.

'We remain sceptical that the floor has yet been reached in reported prices given that lenders continue to restrict supply and raise the price of borrowing,' analysts at RBoS said.


UK inflation is seen rising further, underlining just why the Bank of England cannot go on a rate cutting spree. The CPI annual rate is seen at 2.6 percent in March, up from 2.5 percent the previous month. The wider all items RPI is seen easing to 3.9 pct from 4.1 pct while the RPI-X measure is seen easign to 3.6 percent form 3.7 percent.


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16


UK job market is seen remaining tight, with the claimant count dropping yet again. Expectations are for a 2,000 fall in March compared with 2,800 in February. Headline average earnings meanwhile are seen easing to 3.5 percent in the three months to February from 3.7 percent in the previous three months.



FRIDAY, APRIL 18


UK March public finances are expected to remain in improvement mode, with PSNB at 8 billion pounds compared with 7.1 billion pounds in the same month last year. PSNCR meanwhile is seen at 18.5 billion pounds from 17.3 billion pounds.

'After a horrendous first nine months, the public finances don't look quite so frightening, helped by a very good January outturn, plus favourable revisions,' said Philip Shaw at Investec.

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The Group of Seven leading industrial nations will discuss foreign exchange rates at its meeting Friday, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said.

In a question and answer session at the Brookings Institution in Washington, Darling said currency rates have always come up in the past and "I don't have the slightest doubt that it will get discussed" at Friday's G7 meeting.

Darling also said it was vital to achieve "adequate regulation" for the mortgage industry in the U.K. and elsewhere.

He said the regulation needs to focus on both stopping mortgages from being improperly sold through predatory lending and on ensuring that the financial system does not become "overexposed" to mortgage-related lending.

Supervisors need to make sure that when institutions "decide to acquire securitized mortgages they actually know what's in the book," he said.

However, Darling stressed that there's not likely to be a need for "more and more regulation" and that the regulatory reaction to the current crisis must be "proportionate."

The focus needs to be on ensuring effective oversight, he said.

Darling also said "there is a lot to be said for having common standards" on bank write-downs.

He said the increased transparency will help restore confidence to markets.

Darling also said he was not in favor of coordinated fiscal action to tackle the current market crisis.

"There are areas where...coordinated action across the world clearly does work," however, he said that fiscal policy is an area where "individual countries have to judge whether or not that's appropriate."

Darling also said it would be a "real tragedy" if nations become more protectionist. He said that's why it is "so frustrating to see" the Doha round of global trade talks "stall."

"The future most certainly does not lie in protectionism," he said.

H.
Please can you post a full frontal nude picture of yourself.
Thanks.
d

Dial-a-loss,

I shall be in Formentera for a week in June. Bring a camera and you'll be able to post as many as you want.

Only happy to help.

H.

That'll be the one, Hil.

You been there before Hils ?

I've stayed in Es Pujols myself a few times ... bit quiet for my liking.

You poor dear-I see precisely why you swim so slowly-you are too tense & was that a belly flop we just witnessed?

Given your full co-operation & the correct support I could shave yards off your time

You must start with a full all over waxing followed by a rub down with premium virgin olive oil-this will enable deeper penetration through the water which will in turn help you stretch out fully thus achieving those extra yards

I am available for coaching at short notice should you decide to follow through with your challenge:)

I have a complaint about that photo. There's a distinct lack of detail. I mean you can't tell whether it's a round or rectangular pool. And you need a darker swimsuit. That one could have people believing you're naked

:-)

SC: Get some glasses, mate. Try Specsavers.

This could turn nasty ;-)

Not another thread fight! (It's like a bread roll fight, but doesn't leave a messy restaurant behind.)

I thought the flotation devices were obstrcuting that fight to get to the bottom by the look of it.


Maybe I need to go to Specsavers or sumfin'

hilary, I've put on some polarising specs and you look great :-)

Damn! Wish I'd thought of that.

I've only been there a couple of times on daytrips from Ibiza, Dilbert. It's the fact that it's so quiet which makes it appealing to be honest.

I didn't realise that we had so many lurkers on this thread.

:o)

( TF ) 04/13 16:44
OUTLOOK Highlights of US economic indicators to be released in the coming week


- WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - The following is a synopsis of highlights for US economic indicators to be released in the coming week, with forecasts compiled by Thomson's IFR Markets.


The week will be heavy in economic indicators, with the consumer price index and retail sales among the most closely watched. There will also be speeches by the presidents of the Federal Reserve banks of San Francisco and Philadelphia as well as Fed governors Kevin Warsh and Donald Kohn. On Wednesday, the Fed will release its Beige Book.


MONDAY, APRIL 14


The week will begin with the release of retail sales, which in March are expected to have been flat following last month's 0.6 pct decline. Excluding automobiles, retail sales are expected to have increased 0.2 pct following a 0.2 pct decline in the previous month.

'With three months in a row of falling employment and plunging consumer confidence, retail spending is likely to weaken substantially going forward,' said Jaqui Douglas of TD Economics. Other signs of weakness include the below-50 reading on the ISM non-manufacturing index for three consecutive months and March's declining same-store sales, Douglas noted.


Business inventories are expected to have increased by 0.6 pct in February following a 0.8 pct increase in the previous month.

'Inventory growth continues to surprise on the upside, and solid stock building may keep Q1 GDP above the zero threshold despite signs of recession accumulating in virtually all the major indicators,' economists from Lehman Brothers said.

Meanwhile, business sales are expected to have dipped by 1.5 pct following a 1.5 pct increase in the previous month.


TUESDAY, APRIL 15


Tuesday will begin with the release of the Empire State survey of manufacturing conditions. In April, the index is expected to improve to a level of -16.0 from -22.23 in the previous month.


The Producer Price Index, a measure of wholesale inflation, is expected to have increased 0.5 pct in March, two tenths of a percentage point more than it grew in the previous month. Core PPI, which excludes highly volatile food and energy prices, is expected to have increased in March by 0.2 pct, less than the 0.5 pct it grew in the previous month.

'The Fed would eagerly welcome a second consecutive subnormal reading to help demonstrate to itself, and the public at large, that inflationary pressures are on the wane,' said Brian Bethune and Nigel Gault of Global Insight.


April's National Association of Homebuilders survey, which measures the sentiment of homebuilders, is expected to remain at a level of 20, which Joshua Shapiro of MFR says is 'indicative of extremely weak conditions in the housing market.'

'Although current housing conditions are bleak, with depressed home sales and excess inventory, builders are growing a bit more optimistic about the outlook,' said economists from Lehman Brothers.

The economists noted the Fed's injection of liquidity and Congress's debate over pending proposals to give tax breaks to builders by allowing them to claim current losses against taxes paid in earlier, more profitable years.



WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16


On Wednesday, the Labor Department will release the Consumer Price Index. It is expected to have increased by 0.3 pct in March after being flat in the previous month. Core CPI is expected to have increased 0.2 pct after being flat in the previous month.

'Steady upward pressure from the energy/food/import complex should more than offset the damping effect of retail discounting and rent cutting,' said Sal Guatieri of BMO Capital Markets.


The number of houses on which builders broke ground is expected to have dipped in March to a 1.018 mln unit annual rate, from 1.065 mln. The number of building permits issues in March is expected to have dropped to a 965,000 rate from 978,000 in the previous month.

'The contraction in residential construction should continue to act as a deadweight on new starts and applications to build in March,' said Joseph Brusuelas of IDEAglobal.


Industrial production in March is expected to have dipped by 0.1 pct following a 0.5 pct fall in the previous month. Capacity utilization in the month is expected to have fallen to 80.3 pct from 80.9 pct.

'We are expecting a steep drop in motor vehicle production because of the strike at American Axle, which closed assembly lines,' said Bethune and Gault. 'Manufacturing is contracting, but the good news is that the decline is gradual, with strong export demand providing support.'


Also on Wednesday is the release of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, 'which is expected to underscore the precarious nature of domestic demand,' Shapiro said.



THURSDAY, APRIL 17


As is usual on Thursdays, the Labor Department will release its weekly initial jobless claims figures. In the week ending April 12, the number of individuals filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance is expected to increase to 375,000 following the previous week's unexpected drop to 357,000 claims. Economists say claims totaling 400,000 would be a sign of recession.

'The overall trend in the series implies a new range of 370,000 to 400,000 for initial claims with occasional forays above the critical 400,000, which will confirm fears that the labor market has begun to deteriorate with a bit more speed than the market had previously forecast,' Brusuelas said.

Meanwhile, the number of individuals who continue to file claims for unemployment insurance is expected to drop to 2.930 million claims from 2.940 million claims in the previous week.


Also on Thursday is the release of the Philly Fed survey of manufacturing conditions, which for the month of April is expected to have improved slightly to -15.0 from -17.4. 'Although new orders and shipments both rose last month, unfilled orders fell sharply, indicating limited potential for a significant improvement,' said economists from Lehman Brothers.

'Additionally, both the employment and the hours series both suggested that firms were reducing their head count and trying to manage their production schedules.'

I think it might take a bit of time today for the markets to get their heads around G7. I know the Euro gapped heavily down, but it's rallied since and are the markets really going to give a toss about what the frogs want?

Morning all,

I'm looking at possibily shorting the Euro later this morning. Just see what happens with this retrace first. Looking forward to a nice volatile week.