Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow was up 114.7 points at 12,684.92, while the S&P500
gained 9.5 points at 1,381.3 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 17.51 points to
2,344.99.

Crude topped $101 during the session, recently trading up 13 cents at $101.01.

See you in the morning with the latest...

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

Telegraph
The Times
The Times (Need to know)
FT
The Independent
The Guardian
This is Money

Fears that the United States faces a period of stagflation grew as a slug of fresh data suggested the economy continues to slow as the cost of living rises. US consumer confidence slumped to its lowest level in five years as grim news on house prices added further to the woes of the construction sector. Meanwhile, producer prices soared in January, up 1pc on rising energy costs - the biggest 12-month gain in 26 years.
Fears for US economy as stagflation risks grow

Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said the US economy has stalled and may take longer to recover than normal. The longer growth is frozen, the more likely the US is to see its economy start to contract, Mr Greenspan also warned.
Alan Greenspan downbeat on US economy

The steepest slide in American house prices for 21 years and a disastrous outlook for consumer confidence prompted Wall Street to assume yesterday that the US Federal Reserve will slash interest rates by at least half a percentage point within three weeks.
Wall Street braced for further half-point cut in interest rates by Fed

One of America's most respected private equity bosses claimed the US had already been in recession for at least two months and warned that almost a third of US homeowners were facing negative equity.
A third of US homeowners face negative equity

Bank of England deputy Governor Rachel Lomax has warned that Britain faces a real risk of high inflation caused by "a remarkable period of soaring commodity prices" resulting in slower demand.
UK faces 'real risk of high inflation'

The Bank of England's Deputy Governor today warned that the ongoing credit crunch had left the Monetary Policy Committee uncertain as to its next move as it and fellow central banks face up to what she described as the "largest ever peacetime liquidity crisis".
BoE fears largest ever peacetime liquidity crisis

Fears that the Bank of Englands ability to stave off an economic downturn may be hamstrung by persistent inflation increased yesterday as further signs emerged of faltering growth and rising price pressures.
Rate dilemma for Bank as prices rise and retailers report falling sales

Jon Moulton, the controversial head of private equity firm Alchemy Partners, predicted the blow-up of some major private equity deals this year as the industry reaped the returns of previous excesses.
Banks will hurt in private equity blow-up

Buy-to-let landlords are weathering the clampdown on mortgage lending amid the credit crunch better than homeowners in the wider market, according to latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Buy-to-let weathers credit crunch, says CML

The surge in the price of oil is set to unleash a tsunami of petrodollars onto financial markets, according to Morgan Stanley. With the price of crude oil skirting the $100-a-barrel mark, strategists at the investment bank reckon as much as $2 trillion of petrodollars earned by the world's oil exporters will need to be invested this year.
A 'tsunami' of petrodollars to be unleashed

The United States Treasury is targeting sovereign wealth funds run by the governments of Abu Dhabi and Singapore in what is expected to be a sustained campaign designed to limit their increasing power.
America looks to limit states influence

Sir John Craven, the chairman of Lonmin and a leading City figure, has sold two-thirds of his shares in the platinum miner to avoid the controversial 80pc rise in capital gains tax.
CGT raid forces Lonmin chiefs to sell shares

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently up 218.59 points at 14,043.31, while the
Hang Seng ended the morning up 882.39 points at 24,597.14.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, rose 16
cents to $101.04 per barrel.

Happy trading!

G.

OUTLOOK HBOS FY profit seen 4 pct higherOUTLOOK Royal & Sun Alliance FY operating profit seen down 6 pctOUTLOOK Informa expected to report 9 pct organic growth in 2007OUTLOOK William Hill to report FY earnings decline as new CEO takes helmOUTLOOK BP unlikely to say major strategy shift under new CEO at presentationOUTLOOK New LogicaCMG chief executive under spotlight for FY resultsOUTLOOK Old Mutual FY profit seen flat on rand weaknessTFN economic and business calendarAustralian shares close higher for third day with miners leading gainsThomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Shares, oil rise

The Nikkei ended up 206.58 points at 14,031.30, off a high of 14,105.47.

Australian shares close higher for third day with miners leading gains - UPDATE

TFN UK calendar and forecasts for today

The Wednesday Press Roundup

London shares outlook - higher after triple-digit DJIA gain; results slew key

BROKERWATCH Travis Perkins started 'equal-weight' at Morgan Stanley; tgt 1,220pThomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

Tokyo shares close higher on bargain-hunting after Wall Street's rebound -UPDATE

BROKERWATCH United Utilities upped to 'outperform' in Credit Suisse water reviewBROKERWATCH Swatch, Safilo upped to 'buy' in Goldman Sachs retail review

STOCKWATCH Barratt Developments up on H1 profit rise; Landsbanki starts 'buy'UK smallcap opening - Business Direct slides on FY losses warning

UK smallcap opening - Diamond Lifestyle plunges on FY warning

STOCKWATCH HBOS top faller on outlook concerns; Merrill Lynch stays 'neutral'UK smallcap opening - TDG up on Laxey Partners indicative cash offer

STOCKWATCH Wolters Kluwer falls on disappointing results, guidance

UK smallcap opening - Porvair firms on EU Greensyngas project involvement

UK smallcap opening - Stadium Group gains on solid FY results

STOCKWATCH Old Mutual down on profit taking after results; Merrill Lynch 'buy'