Hello traders!

Just when you thought it was safe to come out......

In the US, soaring oil prices and a weaker dollar coupled with mixed earnings and guidance kept a bearish bias intact from start to finish as virtually every sector closed in negative territory and recorded losses. The Dow logged its largest decline since September 22nd. March crude oil futures contract, which expired today, was responsible for the bulk of the weakness after surging nearly 6% to close up $2.80 at $51.15 a barrel following unusually cold weather in the Northeast US and Europe and concerns over OPEC production cuts.

The Dow closed 174.02 points down at 10,611.20 with the Nasdaq 28.30 points off at 2,030.32 and the S&P500 17.43 points weaker at 1,184.16.

Looks like a dismal start to UK trading, but there is plenty of UK activity to provide some uplifting diversion... ;-)

See you later with breaking news.....

G.

Good morning traders!

As might be expected after the US performance, in Asia, both the Hang Seng and Nikkei are trading triple digit losses...

Back with news in a mo...

Happy day!

G.

AVIVA UPPED TO 'OUTPERFORM', PRUDENTIAL DOWNGRADED TO 'NEUTRAL' BY CSFB

IRON ore majors BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto led the charge on the Australian Stock Exchange this morning

MARKET EXPECTATIONS

* Anglo American PLC year to December net profit before exceptionals 2.72 bln usd vs 1.69 bln

* BBA Group PLC year to December pretax profit before exceptionals and goodwill 127-128 mln stg vs 130.1 mln; total dividend 11.3 pence vs 10.8

* Cadbury Schweppes PLC year to December pretax profit 930-940 mln stg vs 922 mln

* Domnick Hunter Group PLC. Teather & Greenwood forecasts year to December pretax profit 13.3 mln stg vs 13.0 mln; total dividend 10.8 pence, unchanged

* Michael Page International PLC. Arbuthnot Securities forecasts year to December pretax profit 39.1 mln stg vs 23.5 mln; total dividend 3.8 pence vs 3.4

* Paddy Power PLC. Arbuthnot Securities forecasts year to December pretax profit 32.3 mln eur vs 20.5 mln

* Scottish & Newcastle PLC year to December pretax profit before exceptionals 360-380 mln stg vs pro forma 471 mln; total dividend 20.5 pence

* Tomkins PLC year to December operating profit before exceptionals 270-290 mln stg vs 271.8 mln; total dividend 12.6 pence vs 12.0

* Urbium PLC. Arbuthnot Securities forecasts year to December pretax profit 11.0 mln stg vs 9.3 mln; total dividend 11.0 pence vs 10.0.

Morning. Not sure if I'm snowed in yet!

BSS - heading into Mexico. Hmm
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700039061I.html

CLF - extension to Sierra Leone gold
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700039027I.html

VOX - drug contract
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700099131I.html

MIC - acquisition, but can it help?
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700119141I.html

GSL - more gold!
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20050223070014M9763.html

HNT - acquisition
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700179165I.html

CWR - contract with DTI. Quite like these, plenty of recent news
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700189170I.html

ROC - bad news in Oz well for one reason or another
http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200502230700399192I.html

News rather curtailed this morning and haven't covered any results in detail. Need to get focussed with the FTSE called to open below 5k.

Have an interesting day!

Good morning all. Looks like it will be slippery on the roads and also a big slide on FTSE today!!

Morning all punters.

Everyone must be taking comfort in chocolate the way CBRY is going... :-)

Morning all,

Had more snow yesterday than today :-( so am now at work.....

Forgot - perhaps so shocked - FTSE under5000 ....... Thought it would hold longer
but then again Friday and the end of the month is close!

They're drinking too, G. DGE and SCTN also blue. ;-)

Dairy Milk bar and a pint of brown ale please barman... Ooops, wrong thread.

Anyone got any information on that HGP? Just another spike or something cooking?

Thanks in advance!

Blimey, that's a wee outfit, Paulo2. Can't help, I'm afraid.

Cheers, Big Al. Guess it was just a spike. Was very tempted this morning but JUST about managed to hold back.

But while I'm here, can anyone tell me the best site for live US feeds?

Thanks.

Can't help there either, I'm afraid. Don't trade US.

I've been right round the houses, but everyting seems to be at least 15 mins delayed.

Don't think you'll get US live data for free, if that's what you're looking for Paulo.

OK - why if the US are up today are we still down?
It's not fair! ;>)

Coz they sold off massively after we closed, bunny. ;-))

I've found it a fine day to play a few SETS to the short side. Also closed a few SEAQ longs around the open. Considering I was heavily long yesterday, I'm amazed my account shows +ve today. It's been hard work, mind.