S&P Futures

SHELL  announces further cuts in its oil reserves: For the 3rd time Shell has cut its oil reserves by a further 500 million barrels. It has also announced the resignation of it's Chief Financial Officer Judith Boynton after the huge cuts in oil and gas reserves this year but she will remain with the company. The total effect of the cut in reserves will cost the company approximately 100 million dollars per year.

WH Smith has confirmed Permira, the private U.K. private equity firm, has approached about a possible take over of the company worth 375 pence a share

Spear & Jackson The FSA is probing the CEO regarding making illegal sales of company stock in secret through brokerage accounts in the British Virgin Islands over the last two years

Stagecoach said its annual results would beat market expectations and unveiled plans to return up to 250 million pounds to shareholders.

 Caldwell Investments (F), Cyprotex (F), Minmet (F), Compass Group (I), ITV (AGM), Griffin Group (EGM), Reckitt Benckiser (Trading), Stagecoach (Trading)

08:30 March PPI 17:30 March BRC monthly retail sales monitor

23:30 RICS March housing market survey

Safeco Corp, Eli Lilly, 3M, Cendant, Fannie Mae,Hasbro, Lexmark

15:00 Leading Indicators Mar 0.3%

D

Sunday Newspapers 

Marks & Spencer's disastrous trading results have prompted prospective bidders to start circling the troubled retail chain, The Business newspaper reports.

WH Smith the troubled business is understood to be the target of a takeover move by Permira, the private-equity group known for investments in retailers such as New Look and Homebase, reports the Sunday Times. It has confirmed it is to axe 300 jobs.

UK Economic growth to top 3%, Figures to be released this week will confirm that the British economy continues to recover, despite the continuing stagnation of European economies, according to The Business newspaper. WH SmithTESCO has taken the increasingly hostile supermarket price war to new levels as it unveiled price cuts worth 70 million across a full range of products. Fears that the UK property market is developing a dangerous pricing bubble and buyers are ignoring rate rises will be reinforced this week with the publication of three reports showing that house prices are booming again, the Observer reports.

SUNDAY TIMES GKN may bid $3bn for Boeing factories Shell finance chiefs role in doubt Unilever, Birds Eye whips the Captain into shape BAE Systems. Air tanker deal in jeopardy WH Smith, Permira plots 700m swoop on WH Smith Allied Domecq, Showing them whos boss

Stumbling Merrion still a safe bet, Eircom Corus Group, Why you should buy the top shares - and then sell them Corus Group : City grandees take on the boardroom bullies Allied Domecq, Sir Gerry Robinson's working day Sharewatch:Babcock International

Working Space, Allied Domecq

A reward from Abbey will not make you richer M&S chief comes under pressure as takings fall again Should you buy shares in Manchester United? Keeping on track, FirstGroup Vital Statistics: Allied Domecq BSkyB Freeview makes inroads into Irish digital TV with UK boxes Directors' Deals: Rentokil boss cleans up in 9m sale Allied Domecq, Robinson can still show them whos boss Sharewatch: Peterhouse Group Footsie hits a five-week high, Burren Energy Allied Domecq, City grandees take on the boardroom bullies  

Marks & Spencer, Uh oh, Vittorio! M&S launches counter offensive M&S investors should quake

The battle for Baltimore WH Smith faces bid 27m offer for Canary Wharf warrants

MAIL ON SUNDAY Shell finance chief faces axe, Lawyer negotiates a 1m pay-off Equitable not to sue regulators, Compensation hopes dashed Tesco rules with 1.6bn profit WH Smith targeted for takeover, Permira wants to take the reins SNCF in daring Eurotunnel move

Bidders shop for Marks & Spencer, Prospective buyers line up Iceland stores rocked by sales slump, Easter profits worse than first thought Shell's Boynton named in lawsuit Cadbury in 'tainted' deal row, Facing lawsuit over schools contract

INDEPENDENT Usmanov threat to Corus chief Swann to cut 300 jobs in head office cull at ailing WH Smith Investors hand May deadline to M&S boss

After the Easter eggs, the City is ready for a feast at Tesco M&S - put a knitter in charge of the knitting

SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY Environmental awareness is dish of the day for BSkyB HBOS Intelligent Finance boss keen on foreign expansion Tesco on course for record profits, as price war ignites Anglo American Seize the initiative in improving communication UA Group to cash in with 65m sale of Stirling land 3i downgrade misses 'mini-boom' British Energy moves HQ for second time in four years

Lloyds TSB, Going to bat for Scottish Cricket

Celtic Old Firm's goal is to promote safe drinking Philip Green may be tempted to bid for troubled M&S Group Allied Domecq looks set to be in high spirits as profits rise to 270m Market wary as WHSmith set to announce slump in profits ITV Dyke rumours to be answered

INVESTORS CHRONICLE Six of the best AIM newcomers: RAB Capital (RAB) - Moneybox (ATM) - Torex Retail (TRX) - Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping (OHM) - European Nickel (ENK) - Omega International (OME).Income Shares Feature: Shell (SHEL) - BAT's (BAT) - Diageo (DGE) - T Clarke (CTO) - Bradford & Bingley (BB).Tips: Buy Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) at 16.88 - SHL (SHL) at 107p - Hyder Consulting (HYC) at 127p - Bisichi Mining (BISI) at 104.5p - Corpora (CP) at 39.5p. Sell Reuters (RTR) at 401p.Updates: Buy Surfcontrol (SRF), BAA (BAA) and Top Ten Holdings (TTH).Sell Reliance Security (RSG).Company Results:Buy AB Foods (ABF).

SHARES MAGAZINE Running recommendations - 4Imprint (FOUR), WSP (WSP), Pennant International (PEN), DDD (DDD), BioProgress (BPRG), Dimension Data (DDT), Premier Direct (PDR), Abbeycrest (ACR), Berkeley Berry Birch (BBB), Jubilee Platinum (JLP), CMS Webview (CWV), Clarkson (CKN).The Analysis Section: Lok'N'Store (LOK) vs. Big Yellow (BYG) and Mentmore (MEN).The Small Shares Section: Buy International Brand Licensing (IBL) at 27.5p.

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