Traders Thread: Monday 30th Dec

Traders Thread: Monday 30th Dec

FTSE100	TECHMARK	DAX
DJIA	SP500	NASDAQ
NIKKEI	HANG SENG	S&P FUTURES
Indices change @ end of trading FTSE -47.24 TECHMARK -8.69 DAX -160.84 DOW -128.83 S&P500 -14.26 NASDAQ -19.58
News across Friday and the Weekend: The UK stock market fell as the price of oil reaches it's highest price for 2 years. The increase in oil price (because of the threat of war and the strike in Venezuala) have reached such a level that it's affect on the cost of raw materials could affect corporate profit growth. Analysts are reported to be pessimistic about trading up to the new year. FTSE100 dropped 112.7 points, coming to rest at 3829.4.One fifth of the average number of shares were traded friday, that's against the average for the last six months. The FTSE350 lost 49.7. Top 5 (%gainers) 1 (BFRD) Beauford +32% 2 (BLM) Baltimore Tech. +30% 3 (GAI) Galileo Inn. +26% 4 (PMD) Profile Media +24% 5 (HIF) Hidefield +21% Top 5 (%losers) 1 (HMD) Health Media -33% 2 (WEP) West 175 Media -29% 3 (AFG) African Gold -25% 4 (GGI) Gaming Intl. -20% 5 (SDK) Samedaybooks.CO -20% Other prices of interest Granada down 4.75p to 73p Royal & Sun Alliance down 7.5p to 116.5p Invensys down 3.25p to 50.75p Aviva down 22p to 434.5p. Banks other financials also suffered Lloyds TSB down 12p to 437p Alliance & Leicester down 26.5p at 728p HBOS down 21p to 625p Retail also felt the pinch on friday Dixons down 5.25p at 142p B&Q-to-Comet group Kingfisher 2.5p to 211p Next lost 17.5p to 717p, GUS owner of Argos fell 14.5p to 552p On a positive note Marks & Spencer held firm at 307.75p. Debenhams Plc (DEB) up 5.75p to 269. BAE Systems up 3.5p to 127.25p Reckitt Benckiser up 20p to 1190p Bradford & Bingley up 2p at 288p London Stock Exchange Plc (LSE) dropped 10p to 315. The Financial times reported that the Threadneedle Investment Funds (the 2nd largest investor in the LSE) feels that the LSE needs a chairman that can implement an expansion strategy and the position shouldn't be a political appointment. They reported Michael Taylor (Threadneedles head of UK equities) as saying that Paul Myners, who headed a government review of institutional investing and may be running for the LSE chairmanship, isn't appropriate for the job. He's a political appointee rather than an entrepreneur. (Bloomberg) reckons that benchmark gilts may may go up for a fifth week, keeping yields on the two-year note at a three- month low, as speculation war with Iraq is moving closer prompts investors to buy fixed-rate debt. The (FT reported): That JP Morgan Chase is suing Enron to try to recover $184m worth of loans for power projects that the banking giant claims the bankrupt energy group has no claim over. Lawsuits, filed in New York last week, claim that the cash from the loans, which were made to an Enron subsidiary, was linked to the building of five power plants and not be included among the assets to be divided up as part of Enron's bankruptcy. JP Morgan are also trying to recover $1bn worth of guarantees written by the insurers on transactions with Enron, which were carried out through an offshore vehicle called Mahonia. The insurers claim the deals were disguised loans but the bank says the companies knew all along that they were guaranteeing financing for Enron. Separately, JP Morgan has also filed a lawsuit in an effort to recover $55m from Cogentrix Energy, a privately held company that had contracted to build the power plants for Nepco. Royal Mail faces a £330 million pensions shortfall after the collapse of the stock market.The postal group has asked the industry regulator Postcomm for the right to introduce further stamp price rises to help cover the deficit if necessary. The Royal Mail warned that as well as the pensions black hole, it faces a £120 million bill from higher National Insurance contributions. A spokeswoman said: "We are not asking for another penny on postage but we want the flexibility to be able to do so."Share prices have since plunged and the postal group believes it will have to pump in an extra £330 million over the next two years. Rolls-Royce will unveil their first new model this week.Made by BMW at a £65 million new facility at Goodwood in West Sussex, the new car will be sold worldwide from nearly 60 global dealerships.BMW will be releasing the first pictures and full details of the car on Friday January 3, 2003, and the public will get their first glimpse of the vehicle when it goes on display at the Detroit Motor Show in America on January 6.About 40% of sales are expected to come from the United States with the UK being the next biggest market.
Mondays news: Diageo Plc (DGE): After an advertising campaign run in London implying that products from Taiwan are "shoddy" (DGE) faces a boycott in Taiwan after politicians from the opposition People First party reacted to advertisements the Daily Telegraph reported. The shares dropped to 19.5p to 656.5p. Emap Plc (EMA): CEO Robin Miller, is reported in the Sunday times to have commented that UK's largest institutional shareholders don't take enough interest in thier investments. ( Emap Plc is the publisher of the men's magazine FHM) The shares dropped by 20.5p to 719.5p. Fitness First Plc (FTF): Sunday times reported that the health-club operator may be purchased by the buyout firm Cinven Ltd. for a possible 370 million pounds in cash and assumed debt. Shares remained unchanged at 140p. Flintstone Technologies Plc (FLT): Reports first-half earnings. Current share price 19.5 pence. Izodia Plc (IZO): The software maker, under investigation by the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, may have broken rules over disclosing directorships within 14 days, reported the Financial Times reported.Shares went down 1.5p to 44p. Pearson Plc (PSON): Publisher of the Financial Times, and Dow Jones & Co., which also produces the Wall Street Journal, may combine their European printing units, reported the Sunday Times. Shares fell 21p to 567p. PNC Telecom Plc (PTC): Chairman Lord David Stevens is expected to resign, pre-empting a vote to oust him, according to Geremy Thomas the company founder reported Sunday Telegraph. (PTC) own of the KJC chain of mobile-phone stores. The shares went up 0.5p to 19.5p. Royal & Sun Alliance Plc (RSA): expects to sell its medical-insurance division early next year reported the Sunday Times. Shares fell 6.05p to 116.5p. South African Breweries Plc (SAB): Miller Brewing Co. Can offer cash rebates on the purchase of beer when consumers buy nonalcoholic products, a California appeals court ruled. (reported Bloomberg) The shares dropped 20.5p to 429.5p.
This Weeks Calender  All  Times  GMT  United Kingdom  United States  Europe  and  World Monday 30th Results Reports 09.30 UK November BBA Consumer Credit 15.00 US November Existing Home Sales 15.00 US December Chicago PMI 09.00 EMU November M3 3m ma y/y Tuesday 31st Results Reports UK Market Closes at 12.30 15.00 US December Consumer Confidence Wednesday 1st Results Reports Holiday in UK Holiday in US Holiday in EMU Thursday 2nd Results Reports 09.30 UK December Manufacturing PMI 11.00 UK CBI Distributive Trades 13.30 US Initial Claims (w/e 28/12) 15.00 US December manufacturing ISM 09.00 EMU December Manufacturing PMI Ex- Dividend Ex dividends in pence: AEA Technology (1.4), Aveva Group (1.8), Azlan (0.7), FKI (4.2), Halma (2.285), International Greetings (1.3), RelianceSecurities (3.45), Christian Salvesen (2.65), WH Smith (13), Speedy Hire (3.3), Wolseley (13.9), Wolverhampton & Dudley (19.25), WorkspaceGroup (7.5) Friday 3rd Results Reports 09.30 UK November Net Consumer Credit 11.00 EMU December Flash CPI y/y (F)inals (I)nterim - (EU)rope (GE)rmany (FR)ance (IT)aly (SP)ain (BE)lgium