Hello traders!

US stocks rose today as technology share climbed amid news of a $3.4bn deal for Adobe Systems to buy Macromedia but blue chip gains were hampered by disappointment over 3M's Q1.

Heading into the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 5 points at 10,092, bouncing off an intraday low of 10,020. The Nasdaq Composite was up 10 points at 1,918 and the S&P500 added 5 points to 1,147.

Maybe tomorrow will see a bit more blue about the screens in London....

See you in the morning with breaking news...

G.

Good morning traders!

US stocks ended a roller coaster session mixed last night with news of Adobe Systems' $3.4bn buy of Macromedia giving technology a boost but blue chip performance hampered by disappointment over 3M's Q1 sales.

The Dow ended the day down 16.26 points at 10,071.25, bouncing off an intraday low of 10,020, but still closing lower for the fourth consecutive session.

The Nasdaq Composite, halted the falls, closing up 4.77 points at 1,912.92 and the S&P500 added 3.36 points at 1,145.98.

In Asia this morning markets are brighter too, with both the Nikkei and the Hang Seng showing triple-digit gains so far....

Back soon with UK breaking news....

Happy trading!

G.

Eon Labs Inc said Monday night that it has received final approval for Anagrelide, the generic equivalent of Agrylin which is marketed by Shire Pharmaceutical Group (SHP).

P&O UPGRADED TO 'NEUTRAL' VS 'REDUCE' AT UBS

TATE & LYLE DOWNGRADED TO 'UNDERPERFORM' FROM 'IN-LINE' BY GOLDMAN SACHS

PEARSON UPGRADED TO 'IN-LINE' FROM 'UNDERPERFORM' BY GOLDMAN SACHS

AFX UK at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 4,827.1, down 64.5
FTSE 250 6,931.5, down 140.7
DJIA 10,071, down 16.20
Nasdaq Comp 1,912.92, up 4.77
S&P 500 1,146.00, up 3.40
Tokyo: Nikkei closed at 11,065.86, up 127.42
Hang Seng midday 13,473.19, up 117.96
Gold 427.10 usd (425.80 usd)
Oil - Brent May 50.78 usd (51.61 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* Setback for Howard on tax; opinion poll shows Tories not making headway on issue - FT
* US regulatory agency that investigates large foreign acquisitions of American companies for potential national security threats clears BAE SYSTEMS's 2.1 bln stg takeover of Pentagon contractor United Defense, according to officials who have seen the approval letter - FT
* Owners of MG Rover to split a 6.1 mln stg windfall from a closely linked vehicle finance company even though the carmaker has collapsed - FT
* WILLIAM HILL postpones a 453 mln stg return of capital to shareholders after confirming that it is in "exclusive discussions" to buy STANLEY LEISURE's betting shop estate - FT
* CAPITA considering legal action against Channel 4 over a documentary where a former employee secretly recorded conversations inside the company's headquarters - FT
* GAME GROUP shares fall 20 pct on ending of 'possible offer'
* ULSTER TELEVISION enters exclusive talks to buy WIRELESS GROUP - Guardian
* REUTERS is close to offloading Instinet for less than shareholders had hoped; final disposal in chief executive Tom Glocer's big sell-off is expected to raise 590 mln stg, instead of the 670 mln analysts had pencilled in - Mail

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on the economy (with the economic jury still out, negative momentum may push equities even lower in the near-term), Philips, China/US trade, Adobe/Macromedia - PETER HAMBRO MINING (look good value)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: ITV (we expect the shares to perform well for the rest of the year), PETER HAMBRO MINING (a hold for now), VANCO (still worth buying) - PHARMAGENE (takeover talk)
Times
RUMOUR OF THE DAY: STERLING ENERGY (word it is to sell its offshore Reed Bank licence in the Philippines to FORUM ENERGY in return for a 29 pct stake) - DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: METNOR GROUP (four directors buy stock for 587,100 stg) - PILKINGTON (General Motors' fears put pressure on Pilkington) - TEMPUS: STANLEY LEISURE (worth holding), PETER HAMBRO MINING (should be bought by those with the stomach for adventure), VANCO (sell)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: STANLEY LEISURE (hold), VECTURA (look to Vectura for a risky lift), PETER HAMBRO MINING (worth a punt, but only for the brave)
Mail
LOOKERS (buy from add - Numis)
Express
VODAFONE (hopes of a revenue boost from advanced mobile data services) - SHARE WHISPER: SOLITAIRE (hopes annual figures next week will impress) - WHO'S DEALING: METNOR (four directors buy stock)

Morning all.

Good to see so many traders having a good day. Some cracking swings during the session.

Here's hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

G.