Hello traders!

US stocks closed lower tonight, after a session made frenetic by new bomb incidents in London and China's decision to revalue the yuan.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 61.4 points at 10,627. The Nasdaq Composite lost 9.97 points to 2,178.6 and the S&P 500 finished down 8.16 points at 1,227.

Trade throughout the session was volatile, with the major averages switching direction several times, as investor sorted through the complex events of the day.

September crude futures closed down $1.27 at $56.75.

See you in the morning with updates.....

G.

Good morning traders!

A real mixed bag in Asia this morning sees the Nikkei trading down 91.47 points at 11,695.26 and the Hang Seng ahead ending the morning session up 84.40 points at 14,704.54.

Oil prices rebounded after tumbling nearly a dollar in the US overnight with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in September, at $57.44 a barrel, up 31 cents from its close of $57.13 in the US overnight.

Off to find some UK news......

Happy trading!

G.

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

WM MORRISON EXCHANGES CONTRACTS ON FINAL 4 DIVESTMENT STORES

Investors Chronicle :-

TIPS - LARGE COMPANIES: ANGLO AMERICAN (buy), REDROW (buy), IP2IPO (sell)

TIPS - SMALLER COMPANIES: HEALTHCARE ENTERPRISE GROUP (buy), AFRICAN COPPER (buy), MS INTERNATIONAL (buy)

TIPS OF THE YEAR - UPDATES: BISICHI MINING (take profits), FIRSTGROUP (still worth buying), NUMIS (remain good value), BLOOMSBURY (take profits), HALFORDS (hold), PUNCH TAVERNS (still worth buying), CARDPOINT (buy), LAND SECURITIES (still worth buying), ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (keep buying), CONSOLIDATED MINERALS (still good value)

AFX UK at a glance share guide - 2

MARKETS
FTSE 100 5,221.6, up 6.4
FTSE 250 7,467.4, up 32.8
DJIA 10,627.80, down 61.30
Nasdaq Comp 2,178.60, down 9.97
S&P 500 1,227.05, down 8.15
Toyko: Nikkei closed at 11,695.05, down 91.68
Hang Seng midday 14,704.54 up 84.40
Gold 424.35 usd (422.35 usd)
Oil - Brent Sep 55.72 usd (56.65 usd)

BREAKING NEWS
* New wave of attacks hit London; fears of sustained campaign raised; small explosions in three Underground stations and a bus; no fatalities although police chief says 'intention was to kill' - FT
* Saint-Gobain boosts BPB 27 pct; French group eyes leading plasterboard maker; financing understood to be in place; surprise approach after news leaked - FT
* BRITAX CHILDCARE draws offer of 230 mln stg - FT

PRESS COMMENT
FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on revaluation of the reminbi, MISYS, Novatek, Merck - COLT TELECOM (looking toppy, especially if it is not a takeover target) - SMALL TALK: David Blackwell comments on JARLWAY
Guardian
EXEL (word it has received a merger proposal from Kuehne & Nagel) - AFRICAN DIAMONDS (market professionals believe disaffected shareholders have approached rival FIRESTONE DIAMONDS with an offer to sell their shares)
Mail
WORLD GAMING (in talks with a number of parties over a potential acquisition)
Telegraph
QUESTOR: RHM (worth a nibble for the dividend; other investors should probably steer clear), SCOTTISH POWER (buy), BOOTS (sell)
Times
DENSITRON TECHNOLOGIES (word it has won work from Bosch) - DIRECTORS' DEALINGS: PHOENIX IT GROUP (finance director sells 25,000 shares at 310 pence) - COMPASS (vague whispers that Sir Gerry Robinson's new bid vehicle may be eyeing the embattled contract caterer as a first potential target) - TEMPUS: BPB (Saint-Gobain could be justifiably pressed for at least another 100 pence; hold out for more), SEVERN TRENT (reduce), BSS (buy)
Express
SHARE WHISPER: DA GROUP (speculation about a new mobile venture featuring a caricature of porn star Ron Jeremy) - WHO'S DEALING: MJ GLEESON (director buys 1,540 shares at 197 pence)
Independent
THE INVESTMENT COLUMN: MFI FURNITURE (hold), LONDON CLUBS INTERNATIONAL (hold on to your chips), MISYS (now may not be the time to buy; existing investors should hold on)
Investors Chronicle
TIPS - LARGE COMPANIES: ANGLO AMERICAN (buy), REDROW (buy), IP2IPO (sell); TIPS - SMALLER COMPANIES: HEALTHCARE ENTERPRISE GROUP (buy), AFRICAN COPPER (buy), MS INTERNATIONAL (buy); TIPS OF THE YEAR - UPDATES: BISICHI MINING (take profits), FIRSTGROUP (still worth buying), NUMIS (remain good value), BLOOMSBURY (take profits), HALFORDS (hold), PUNCH TAVERNS (still worth buying), CARDPOINT (buy), LAND SECURITIES (still worth buying), ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (keep buying), CONSOLIDATED MINERALS (still good value)

Good morning all

Its all happening London today!

BPB plc ('BPB') announces that at the request of Saint-Gobain, Sir Ian Gibson,
Chairman of BPB, met today with M. Beffa, Chairman and Chief Executive of
Saint-Gobain.

At this meeting M. Beffa outlined a proposal of a possible offer by Saint-Gobain
for BPB at 675p per share in cash.