Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow Jones was up 168.46 points at 8,185.41 with the
S&P500 ahead 18.48 points at 873.64 and the Nasdaq Composite 38.13 points
better at 1,711.94.

Crude oil was up $1.58 at $51.04 a barrel on Nymex.

Good hunting!

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

The pace at which the US economy is contracting began to slow in April, the Federal Reserve confirmed, in the first formal indication that America's 17-month recession is beginning to ease.
Markets jump as US recession shows signs of easing

A rebound in consumer spending combined with the aggressive actions of business owners to position the US economy for a return to growth later this year, economists concluded yesterday, even as GDP shrank more than expected in the first three months of 2009.
US recovery hopes grow even as economy contracts 6.1%

More than 100 asset managers submitted applications to the US Government to buy up to $1 trillion worth of toxic assets from the troubled banking sector.
More than 100 funds want to buy toxic assets

Ireland is suffering the greatest decline in economic growth of any industrialised nation since the Great Depression, a respected Irish research institute said today.
Ireland's decline worst since Great Depression

Chryslers future was last night in the balance as the US Treasury tried to hammer out a last-minute deal with the companys lenders, but at the same time prepared for a bankruptcy filing by the stricken carmaker.
Chryslers future in the balance as US Treasury has talks with lenders

World stock markets could fall by 15pc-20pc if the World Health Organisation (WHO) upgrades the swine flu outbreak to a "phase 5" crisis, a leading fund manager has warned.
Markets face 20pc fall if swine flu spreads

Fears that the swine flu outbreak could cause further stock market shocks around the globe have proved largely unfounded, although certain shares and funds have fallen in value on the back of this latest health concern.
Swine flu: how will shares react?

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	SHANGHAI	HANG SENG

KOSPI	VIX	GOLD	NYMEX CRUDE

E-Trade saw its shares fall by more than 30% on a day when most financial stocks were higher after it said The Office of Thrift Supervision told it to raise new capital and reduce leverage.

E-Trade shares plunge 30% on dilution fears

BARC UBS: reiterated neutral, tp raised to 260 from 110
BBA Brewin Dolphin: sell
CBRY Investec: hold, tp 575
CHTR Citigroup: buy, tp raised to 600 from 480
FLTR BofA: downgraded to neutral from buy
HMSO Collins Stewart: reiterated hold, tp 238
HMV Citigroup[HB]: buy, tp raised to 175 from 150
ISYS Morgan Stanley: upgraded to equalweight from underweight, tp raised to 165 from 135
MLC Morgan Stanley: downgraded to underweight from equalweight, tp cut to 180 from 260
SGC UBS: reiterated neutral, tp cut to 138 from 150
SL. ING: reiterated hold, tp 138
SN. Blue Oar: reiterated hold
WMH Noble: positive

SHARES MAGAZINE

Plays:
Sell Dimension Data at 48p
Buy Prosperity Minerals at 34p

Star quality fund managers top five picks:

Buy Air Partner, Savills, Kentz Corp, Southern Cross Healthcare,

Sell Investec