Hello traders!

US market is drifting sideways heading into the close but remains mostly positive.

The Dow is ahead 32 points and the S&P500 up 1.79 points. The Nasdaq trails by 5 points.

See you with UK news in the morning!

G.

Good morning traders!

And a cold, wet and miserable morning it is here too... :-(

In the US last night, blue chips found modest buying interest, despite another surge in oil prices. The general market was buoyed by encouraging economic data and strong retail numbers, while weakness in chips kept technology issues under pressure.

The Dow closed up 21.06 at 10,833.03 with the Nasdaq 9.10 points lower at 2,058.40. The S&P500 was marginally higher at 1,210.47.

In Asia this morning, the Hang Seng is off 3o points or so with the Nikkei just holding its head above break-even.

Back with some UK news soon.

Happy trading!

G.

US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart was released from jail, after serving a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, to star in a new television show and spend another five months under house arrest.

Bless!

morning all

COOKSON UPGRADED TO 'OUTPERFORM' FROM 'NEUTRAL' BY CSFB

Investors Chronicle:-

TIPS - LARGE COMPANIES: SCOTTISH & NEWCASTLE (buy), ROK PROPERTY SOLUTIONS (buy), AIR PARTNER (buy); TIPS - SMALLER COMPANIES: PETER HAMBRO MINING (buy), SECTORGUARD (buy), TANFIELD (buy); TIPS - UPDATES: PALADIN RESOURCES (fairly priced), HOLIDAYBREAK (good value), BISICHI MINING (buy)

Morning

DTC - trading statement, cutting costs
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20050304070000P231D.html

APG - not much chance of a bounce then? ROFLMAO!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700033196J.html

ERX - EU grant
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700043210J.html

CFYN - not the best statement and they've come a long way pw!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700073292J.html

MMG - this looks good! ;-)
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700073291J.html

FER - interesting. Volume picking up here. P/E 9, yield 6. Long termer?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700073280J.html

UKB - more good news? Flurry recently
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700073274J.html

WICH - been watching these. Illiquid recent list, but they seem to tick along
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700073272J.html

RVD - suspension lifted. Look out!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700093281J.html

HDU - recent price tail-off signalled this?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700103301J.html

VML - digging away!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700113305J.html

SAR - listed in October, now possibly taken over!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700123311J.html

BII - acquisition
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200503040700133314J.html

BAU - gold
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20050304070028M5692.html

LLOY seems ahead too, so that's fine for the ISA and I'll collect the divi, thank you.

Gotta nip out now, so hopefully back for the open.

Good morning all.

Morning all.

GEORGE WIMPEY UPGRADED TO 'NEUTRAL' FROM 'UNDERWEIGHT' BY JP MORGAN

BUR starting to go north !!!!

long ARM 113.50 s/l on

covered ARM +1 not a lot but all helps :-)

The Dow industrials have peeked above the 10,900 level for the first time since June 13, 2001. The blue chip barometer was last up 82 points at 10,915, and was now 835 points shy of its all-time high of 11,750 reached in January 2000. The last time the Dow closed above 10,900 was on June 12, 2001, when it closed at 10,948.