S&P Futures

US equities shake off recent worries in a steady climb throughout the day.

Boots said it would meet market profits consensus forecasts for the year, and it accelerate its investment in its key chemist chain. Sales are up four percent in Q4 at the top end the range of analyst forecasts

J Sainsbury WARNED annual profits would fall short of last year due to falling sales and has agreed to sell its U.S. Shaw's supermarkets for $2.475 billion. The money will be used for its core UK business as well as returning 680 million pounds / 35 pence-per-share, to shareholders.

Compass catering said it had made a good start to 2004 and expected turnover growth of seven percent for the year combined with a high 95% contract retention.

Minerva property group posted a 50 percent fall in first-half profit to 0.6 million pounds but said that the London office market was recovering from a previous slowdown.

PM Group (I), Sinclair Pharma (I), BATM Advanced (F), Chelford (F), Harvey Nash Group (F)

Q4 Balance of Payments (09:30)

Q4 GDP final (09:30)

15:00 Help-Wanted Index Feb - 39 13:30 Personal Income Feb - 0.3% 13:30 Personal Spending Feb - 0.5% 13:45 Mich Sentiment-Rev. Mar - 94.1

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