The FTSE 100 index was 16.5 points firmer at 4,503.2, just holding on to the 4,500 level but well below an early morning peak of 4,516.7.

The broader FTSE indices all ended higher.

Volume was unexciting, with 2.9 bln shares changing hands in 202,459 deals.

August crude rose 36 cents to close at $37.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange amid concerns that an oil workers' strike in Norway will reduce global oil supplies.

In the U.S. stocks chalked up their first loss in three sessions Thursday, as weakness in blue chips and an unexpected decline in May durable goods orders took its toll on investors' sentiment, and overshadowed early strength in the technology sector.

The Down Jones Industrial Average closed off unofficially down 36 points at 10,444. The Nasdaq closed off 5 points at 2,016, unofficially, while the S&P 500 fell 3 points to 1,141.

I had better post this now as I am not sure I will be in a fit state to do it later with England struggling in Portugal - extra time and penalties looming!

Good hunting
Bag of nerves of Oxon

Evening Martini and thank you for posting despite the football. Sad about the result!

Morning all

and hallo 'bag of nerves' I bet u were, other half was found walking round garden, couldnt stand it. I thought Golden balls was paid to get it in the net not over it, must have missed something, like him....

We need to rename Becks 'Bronze balls' after last night.

Morning all

morning campers

Morning all - just managed to come back early so thought I drop by.

I know its short notice, but does anyone want to go to the FESTIVAL OF SPEED AT GOODWOOD TODAY? I HAVE 4 SPARE FREE TICKETS(it also includes free entrance to an photographic exhibition in the dunhill club - where all the drivers hang out - prompt at 1145am.) e-mail me asp if you are interested. The place opens at 7am, but I'm not planning to get there until 11ish.

mornin all

little women-i,m sick as a pig, desperately wanted to go this year, but off to Estonia today for the long weekend as its best mate stag weekend! nice of you to make the offer btw!

PB, always the way - pity you aren't flying out of southampton, via Goodwood!

Morning All!
Anyone got any ideas on why ANL has gone up 11.5 today and is now
testing the 500p mark? Is it the usual bid speculation or has someone
got a 'whiff' of something more concrete than the will-they-wont-they
coming from Spain?

Morning all.

I'm a bit puzzled about why RBS keeps dropping below 1620p.

I know that they are placing lines of new stock at this price
to fund their latest takeover, so why buy on the open market
above this price.
But why do folk keep selling below this price, which is basically
the going rate?
I would have expected 1620p to be the line in the sand in the
absence of any fresh news.

I'm obviously missing something.
Anyone care to offer an explanation?

Melnibone.

ANL now through the 500p barrier - all a mystery....
no offical news....

Stockbunny,

All I can find on ANL is the positive trading statement by
Bradford and Bingly stating that the Buy to Let business is
still strong.
Rises in it's peer group are being put down to this.
No idea if there's any truth in this theory. Folk will
always find a reason to explain a price movement.
So I wouldn't pay much attention to that reasoning if I
was interested in ANL.

Melnibone.

DNX also rising fast - can't find any news

Chart is showing a rough inverse head and shoulders, which is bullish,
and there is a gap to fill from February at approx 550p.

If it closes above the 200Ma, you may get lucky.
Fingers crossed. :-)

Melnibone.

JJ50

Good to see Dana finally starting to take off. The psychological 300p barrier has now been broken and it is well and truly out of the sideways range it has been stuck in. Lets hope this is the start of a re-rating based on last years results esp cashflow and future prospects - or has a drilling report been leaked?

Tom Hougards thoughts for todays market.
rgds
zarif
Good morning,



Thursday was a bit of a disappointment for the bulls but there was no real damage done to the chart. I hope some of you caught the 18:00 turn which came in bang on time. We are still bullish above 1132 and this can now be extended to 1138. I think we are in the quarter-end mark up period but I dont think institutions intend to take stocks too much further. There are 4 days left of the quarter. Today can go either way and I will favour the long side above 1138. There are clearly some items on the exogenous agenda that can and potentially will shake the market a little. The FED meeting is next week, and the Iraq handover is taking place. You also got the Russell 2000 re-weighting in this major index which will require some adjusting of the big portfolios.



I will keep todays analysis short. I dont see any real reason to be bearish right now. It was mixed bag yesterday but stocks like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citi Group and Lehman all had good reversals and the strength in the financials is usually a good sign for the general market.



For today I got another 18:00 UK time turn. I wont be trading of course as I will be warming up shouting and cheering for Denmark. J



Have a nice weekend.



Tom

Melnibone - thank you much appreciated! I'll just sit here
with my ears and fingers all crossed, only need a tad more
of a rise and I'll jump ship..

Hi guys and Gals,
I have put the link for Livecharts on the header on the dow thread. Check it out and let me know as its quite nifty.

rgds
zarif