A Brief Look At The Week Ahead

The markets will anxiously wait the verdict from the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which meets on Thursday. Most economists foresee at least one more rise in the base rate this year, but few expect it to come this month. The MPC, of course, can always come up with a surprise. The quarterly reshuffle of the FTSE100 and FTSE250 comes around again this week. Although a lot can happen between now and Wednesday, when the changes are announced, those favoured to drop out of the benchmark index are Cairn Energy, Drax and Tate & Lyle. Those likely to move up are Daily Mail & General Trust, Schroders and Punch Taverns. At HSBC, investors will be hoping for sings of composure from CEO, Michael Geoghegan on Monday, after a rough few weeks. The company announced early last month that loan impairments in its US business would be much more severe than anticipated, leading to the exit of the heads of that business. Broker Charles Stanley expects the group's overall pre-tax profit to come in at $22.5bn against $20.9bn a year ago but most focus will be on bad debt levels. Brit Insurance and Admiral reveal their annual results on Tuesday. Analysts will be keen for Admiral's view on the UK market, where rates have been deteriorating consistently over the past two years. On the same day mining giant Xstrata is expected to unveil numbers that bear out the full benefits of the global commodities boom. Charles Stanley expects the group, which operates mines in 18 countries, to report $6.5bn in pre-tax profits, more than double the $2.4bn it made the year before. Royal & SunAlliance, whose shares dropped more than 10% in last week's sell-off, will hope to gain some of that back when it publishes annual numbers on Thursday. R&SA has agreed to sell its US business to management, but a US judge has imposed some conditions on the deal that could complicate it. Numis Securities expect a pre-tax profit of 764m. Amongst others in the spotlight this week will be William Hill and IMI on Monday; International Power on Tuesday; Johnston Press on Wednesday; Arriva and Drax on Thursday and Corac and Tenon on Friday. Good hunting! Greystone (Greystone is Alan English, City Editor at MoneyAM.)

again thanks for the thread.

This from the Prostate Cancer Charity site,

I know that some will already have seen this as it is included in a different thread. I am after as many signatures as I can generate so have started up a new topic just for this. Thanks to those who have already signed by the way.

If any one wants to sign the petition re testing it has been accepted on the Downing Street website and can be found at

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/psa-testing/

It reads as follows


We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to begin regular
testing for prostate cancer in men between the ages of 40 and
70

Prostate cancer is the largest cause of male deaths. A blood
test, known as PSA, can indicate that there is a problem that
needs investigating. In the Tryol district of Austria this is
being done and the mortality rates have fallen. Too many men
are being diagnosed only when it is too late for treatment to
be more than palliative.

Morning all. Friday's market reports:

Telegraph
Telegraph (Bloomberg summary)
The Times
FT
The Guardian
The Independent
This is Money

OUTLOOK HSBC FY profit seen up 8.5 pctAustralian shares close sharply lower as carry trades unwind - UPDATEAsian markets summary

OUTLOOK - UK companies results for 2 weeks to March 9

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei finished 575.68 points lower at 16,642.25, its lowest close
since December.

The Hang Seng ended the morning down 581.65 points at 18,860.36.

New York Mercantile Exchange's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for
delivery in April, fell by 65 cents to $60.99 a barrel from $61.64 a barrel in late
trading in the US Friday.

The bears are still growling loudly....

Happy trading!

G.

Tokyo shares close sharply lower, in line with other EAsian markets

OUTLOOK - UK smaller companies results for the 2 weeks to March 16

STOCKWATCH Royal Bank of Scotland upgraded to 'overweight' at Lehman BrothersAFX UK at a glance share guide

ARI upgraded to buy from hold - Deutsche Bank
IGG upgraded to buy from neutral - Merrill Lynch
RBS upgraded to overweight from equal-weight - Lehman Brothers

STOCKWATCH Royal & Sun Alliance upped to 'neutral' from 'sell' by Merrill Lynch

Morning all.

UK smallcap opening - ClearDebt runs back as H1 operating losses widen

STOCKWATCH Glaxo's drug pipeline in focusUK smallcap opening - Filtronic adrift as board opts not to return cash

UK smallcap opening - Careforce surges on agreed Mears bid

STOCKWATCH HSBC higher on in-line FY results, upbeat outlookUK smallcap opening - Ramco Energy advances on favourable lawsuit ruling