Hello traders!

In the US tonight, heading into the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell
35.33 points to 12,178.47. The S&P 500 fell 1.71 points to 1,325.04, while the
Nasdaq Composite gained 3.12 points to 2,263.40.

See you in the morning with the latest...

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

The Bank of England is likely to hold interest rates at 5.25pc at its monthly rate-setting meeting tomorrow, economists are predicting. Inflationary fears, as well as better-than-anticipated services sector figures out today, are expected to convince the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee to hold rather than cut rates.
Interest rates likely to be held at 5.25pc

The Bank of England should keep rates on hold to quell persistent inflationary pressures, despite mounting evidence that an economic slowdown is taking hold, The Times MPC said yesterday.
Times panel of experts wants rates kept on hold in drive to tame inflation

Both the pound and dollar slid to all-time lows against the euro amid growing despondency about the health of the US and UK economies.
Pound and dollar at record lows to euro

The Italian treasury has taken the highly unusual step of intervening in the debt markets to prevent a further surge in government bond yields as hedge funds with heavy exposure to the region scramble to raise liquidity.
Italy supports bond market as spreads soar

Ambac, the struggling mortgage bond insurer, said yesterday that it would raise $1.5 billion (756 million) in a rights issue. However, it gave warning that this may not be enough to prevent further downgrades of its key credit rating.
Ambac says $1.5bn rights issue may not be enough to protect rating

Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Prime Minister, used his annual state of the nation speech yesterday to set out how Beijing would try to prevent rising prices emerging as a focus for social unrest.
Premier Wen Jiabao pledges to fight inflation gripping China

Food and energy costs pushed inflation across the OECD club of rich countries to 3.5pc in January, the highest level in seven years.
Inflation at seven-year high in OECD countries

Oil prices surged last night on news that the Opec producers' cartel will not increase output. On Tuesday President George Bush asked for a production increase to help dampen record oil prices, which it is feared are helping to push the US economy towards recession.
Opec rejects Bush plea to increase oil output

Confirmation that private sector employment in the US fell for the first time in almost five years this month came with the latest analysis of the American jobs market.
US private sector employment falls for first time in five years

Robert Bonnier, the colourful City trader and former dotcom millionaire, is alleged to have owed failed broker Global Trader Europe more than 6m. Global Trader launched a high court legal action in December to recover an alleged 6.2m debt from Mr Bonnier and two Jersey based companies - just weeks before the broker collapsed into administration after an unnamed client sustained heavy losses.
Failed broker targets Bonnier 'debt'

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Nikkei ended up 243.36 points at 13,215.42, while the Hang
Seng reached midway up 500.84 points at 23,615.18.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, traded briefly at a
new high of $104.95 before easing to $104.37. It closed Wednesday at $104.52.

Happy trading!

G.

OUTLOOK Kazakhmys FY EBITDA steady as stronger copper prices offset lower outputOUTLOOK Galiform FY pretax profit seen up 28 pctOUTLOOK Reuters FY seen strong after confident guidanceOUTLOOK International Power opg profit seen up, boosted by acquisitionsRPT TFN economic and business calendarAustralian shares close higher on firmer commodities prices - UPDATETFN economic and business calendarThomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Stocks, oil rise

Tokyo shares close higher on bargain-hunting

TFN UK calendar and forecasts for today

The Thursday Press Roundup

*BA SAYS OUTLOOK FOR NEXT YEAR CONSISTENT WITH ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, FUEL COSTS

BROKERWATCH Aviva upgraded to 'overweight' vs 'equal-weight' by Lehman BrothersLondon shares outlook - higher as NY gains; results, BoE meeting in focus

Tokyo shares close higher on bargain-hunting - UPDATE

Thomson Financial UK at a glance share guide

BROKERWATCH HBOS established with Short-Term Buy at UBS; target 610p from 650

UK smallcap opening - Sareum moves up on additional drug discovery programme

London shares open slightly lower; investors mull mixed results ahead of BoE

UK smallcap opening - Motive TV ticks up on TV production company launch

STOCKWATCH Kazakhmys gains after profit rises; Merrill Lynch retains 'neutral'

UK smallcap opening - Media Corp rallies on soothing statement; own share buying

UK smallcap opening - SQS up after 96 pct increase in FY profits

UK smallcap opening - ContentFilm dips as Peace Entertainment terminates talks