Good morning traders!

In the US last night, the Dow was down 53 points at 10,321, the Nasdaq lost 2
points at 2,234 and the S&P500 fell 2 points at 1,103.

In Asia today, the Nikkei rose 25.07 points at 10,127.03, while the Hang Seng
ended the morning ahead 259.89 points at 20,659.46.

Crude oil traded at $78.46 a barrel on Nymex.

Happy Friday!

G.

Morning all. Market reports:

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

The head of Germany's debt agency has warned that Greek withdrawal from the euro would have calamitous effects and destroy Europe's monetary union, a prospect that leaves Berlin with little choice other backing an EU rescue plan.
Germany debt chief hints at Greek rescue

The crisis of confidence in Greece's ability to tame its budget deficit deepened yesterday as Greek government sources confirmed that European Union inspectors now in Athens expect the country to miss its targets for deficit reduction.
Now Greece heads for junk status as crisis intensifies

Goldman Sachs' role in masking Greece's real debt burden is to be investigated by the US Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Goldman Sachs faces Fed inquiry over Greek debt

Britains economy faces another critical moment today, when figures reveal whether the country really has finally recovered from recession. Statistics published last month suggested that Gross Domestic Product had grown by the most slender of margins during the final quarter of 2009, technically marking an end to the longest recession since the 1930s. But politicians and economists have been nervously awaiting todays announcement, when the fragile recovery of just 0.1 per cent could be revised to zero - or even worse.
Britain to learn if it has dropped back into recession

Talks with Iceland over the repayment of 2.3 billion in debts to the UK collapsed last night after representatives of the troubled north Atlantic island walked out of negoiations in London. The breakdown in dialogue means that Iceland will hold a referendum next week. The prospect of a no vote on March 6 threatens the flow of aid to Icelands damaged economy and raises fears that the country could default on its obligations.
Iceland walks out of 2.3bn debt repayment talks

NIKKEI 225	AUSTRALIA ASX200	HANG SENG	SHANGHAI COMPOSITE

KOSPI	SENSEX
NYMEX CRUDE	GOLD	VIX

AZN Goldman: upgraded to neutral from sell
GSK Goldman: upgraded to neutral from sell
NWG RBS: initiated buy
PNN RBS: initiated hold
RDW Citigroup: downgraded to hold from buy
SMDS UBS: upgraded to buy from neutral, tp reiterated 135
SVT RBS: initiated buy
UU. RBS: initiated buy

Midday Market Overview

Here we go again with Red Rock RRR.

No stock again so the buying limits are reduced to 25k and the mm's still
refuse to let it break above 2p, well for now they do, will the sellers emerge
again and bail out the mm's, if 2p breaks then i feel 3p will come quickly, it's
a huge resistance level that has been tested and failed at least 10 times in
18 months.

End-of-day Market Overview

Well, there goes February. Have a great weekend all.

G.