Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
LONDON, 5 Feb (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening
47-58 points lower on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, retreating
after good gains on Wednesday with all eyes fixed on lunchtime interest rate
decisions from both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.
The UK blue chip index closed 64.14 points, or 1.5 percent higher on
Wednesday at 4,228.60, adding to a 2.1 percent gain on Tuesday, with the index
posting its first consecutive gains in a month.
The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates to another
300-year low to deaden the blow from what is already the fastest pace of
economic decline in nearly three decades.
Sixty-one of 68 economists polled by Reuters Jan. 28-29 said the Monetary
Policy Committee would cut rates by a half percentage point to 1.0 percent, two
said it would cut them by double that amount, two by just 25 basis points, and
three said it would leave rates unchanged.
The European Central Bank is widely expected to take a break in its rate
cutting cycle in February, but be back in action in March as both growth and
inflation slide to new lows, according to a Reuters poll.
The latest Halifax UK house price survey will be released this morning,
providing another snapshot of the state of the depressed homes market.
UK business failures rose by 78 percent in January, with construction,
business services and property firms bearing the brunt of the pain, according
to information group Experian, the Daily Telegraph said.
U.S. and Asian markets were weak overnight following a batch of
disappointing corporate news, with network equipment group Cisco
missing expectations in results released after the U.S. close.
Also after the Wall Street close on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted to
soften a "Buy American" plan in its $900 billion stimulus bill after President
Barack Obama expressed concern the original language could trigger a trade war. .
"A slew of troubling earnings news out of the U.S. and mounting concern that
the plans of the new Administration to solve the toxic debt issues ... served to
push Wall Street lower by last night's close with the Dow finishing back below
the key 8,000 level," said Matt Buckland, a dealer at CMC Markets.
"This will certainly rock sentiment in Europe as Thursday's session gets
underway and with some big numbers due in the coming hours, the mood is likely
to be one of caution at traders aim not to be taken by surprise," Buckland
added.
Global Overview
* Kraft, bank worries knock Wall St; Cisco hit late
* Nikkei dips 0.5 pct as defensive stocks fall
* Dollar broadly higher as ECB, BOE rate decisions loom
* Oil inches lower near $40 on equities, inventories data
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
2
* Gold slips but holds above $900/oz, ETF at record
UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:
MOBILE TELECOMS
Europe's biggest mobile phone operators will launch on Thursday a last-ditch
effort to persuade the European Commission to scrap plans to force them to slash
the charges they make for connecting calls, the Guardian said.
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
RBS will supply 3 billion pounds ($4.32 billion) of funds to smaller
businesses, to help them weather a credit drought and the United Kingdom's first
recession since the early 1990s.
Also, RBS is reviewing its expansion plans in Singapore and may put on hold
its plans to open two more branches and hire 25 percent more front-line staff, a
local newspaper reported on Thursday.
And the troubled RBS, rescued with 20 billion pounds of public money, is
planning large bonuses for thousands of its City traders and senior bankers, the
Times said.
RIO TINTO
Rio Tinto says it has completed the sale of potash assets to Brazil's Vale for $850 million.
UNILEVER
The household products firm will post full-year results.
CONSUMER GOODS
U.S. firm Procter & Gamble is working with Goldman Sachs Group
to identify potential buyers for its pharmaceuticals brands or find other ways
to exit the business, people close to the matter said late on Wednesday, the
Financial Times reported.
BG GROUP
The energy group will issue fourth-quarter results.
GLAXOSMITHKLINE
The drugs firm will report fourth quarter results later this morning.
BHP BILLITON
The chief executive of BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining group,
Marius Kloppers, said its balance sheet put the group in a privileged position
to buy international mining assets "as others falter", when presenting full-year
results on Wednesday, the Financial Times said.
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
3
BP
Oil firm BP and D1 Oils have cut back their plans for expansion and
are now looking for new investors in their joint bio-fuels venture which began in
2007, the Financial Times said.
MARKS & SPENCER
The retailer has come out on top of a 13-year conflict with HM Revenue and
Customs over a row which centred on whether the marshmallow tea cake was a cake,
as M&S contended, or a chocolate-covered biscuit, the Daily Telegraph said.
TRANSPORT
Rail industry insiders have said ministers face the politically fraught
decision on whether they should enforce rail fare increases next year after
train operators confirmed ticket prices would be falling in 2010, The
Independent reported.
NATIONAL GRID
The power distributor will issue a trading update.
COMPASS GROUP
The contract caterer hosts its annual general meeting.
TUI TRAVEL
The tour operator hol\ds its annual general meeting.
YELL GROUP
The directories firm will post third-quarter results.
SIGNET GROUP
The Anglo-U.S. jeweller will post fourth-quarter sales numbers.
EASYJET
The discount airline holds its annual general meeting.
MCBRIDE
The chemicals firm will report first-half results.
PARAGON GROUP OF COMPANIES
The specialist lender holds its annual general meeting.
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
4
** The Financial Times **
BANKERS' BONUSES SET TO HALVE
European investment bankers may see their annual bonuses cut by at least 50 percent as the backlash
against government bail-outs adds pressure on banks to make cuts. Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE> will be
the first major European bank to post its annual results on Friday and will inform its employees on their
expected bonuses next week. Early indications reveal bonuses for its investment bankers could be cut by 60
percent as European banks aim to follow their U.S rivals who reduced bonus payouts by an average of 44
percent last year. Brady Dougan, Credit Suisse <CSGN.VX> chief executive, said it was aiming for a
"significant reduction" in costs, while UBS <UBSN.VX> said it would cut bonuses by 80 percent.
THREAT TO AVIVA POLICYHOLDERS' WINDFALL
The insurer Aviva <AV.L> warned its policyholders could miss out on a large windfall as it confirmed it will cut
a promised one billion pound pay-out for more than a million policyholders. Aviva said since the value of
surplus had fallen, the deal struck last year was no longer fair to share or policyholders. Chief executive
Andrew Moss said the insurer was trying to free surplus capital in two life funds in a restructuring deal that
would have paid out an average of a thousand pounds to each policyholder.
JD SPORTS STEALS LEAD AS TEENS SHRUG OFF THE DOWNTURN
Sportswear chain JD Sports Fashion <JD.L> issued a surprise statement saying sales growth had been
maintained during January after it had previously predicted that sales would drop after the Christmas and
New Year period. JD said pre-tax profit for the year till the end of January would exceed market predictions,
though only marginally. Executive chairman Peter Cowgill said many of its customers were teenagers who
were largely unaffected by the credit crunch and were still determined to buy the latest sports gear.
BHP READY TO MAKE ACQUISITIONS
BHP Billiton <BLT.L> said cash flows of nine billion pounds in the first half had reduced gearing to less than
10 percent. The chief executive of the world's biggest mining group, Marius Kloppers, said its balance sheet
put the group in a privileged position to buy international mining assets "as others falter". BHP has previously
revealed an interest in buying joint-venture projects it runs with Rio Tinto <RIO.L>, which it failed to buy in
2008. Alex Vanselow, chief financial officer of BHP, said one of Rio Tinto's most attractive assets was its 30
percent stake in the Escondida copper mine in Chile of which BHP owns 57.5 percent. Vanselow said: "This
is a tier one asset we know well and (buying out Rio) is something we would clearly consider."
BP REINS IN D1 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLANS
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
5
BP <BP.L> and D1 Oils <DOO.L> have cut back their plans for expansion and are now looking for new
investors in their joint bio-fuels venture which began in 2007. BP has recently ended its wind power business
outside the United States as well as pulling the plug on two projects for power stations that could capture
and store their carbon dioxide emissions. D1 said it planned to "tighten the business' geographic focus,
reduce the overhead base and contain short-term cash requirements". BP's chief executive Tony Hayward
said: "The mantra at BP today is, 'Every dollar counts'."
STERLING'S PLUNGE ADDS TO DEBT BURDEN AT SAGE
Software group Sage <SGE.L> said its debt levels rose in the last three months because of the weakness of
the pound. Net debt rose from 541 million pounds to 649 million pounds as a direct result of currency
translation. However, the Newcastle-based company said it was comfortable with the amount of debt and
looked towards the strength of its subscription services business in offsetting any impact of a subdued
market for software and related services.
LENDERS TO TAKE OVER AT ESPORTA
According to sources close to the situation, Societe Generale is in the process of a debt-for-equity swap to
buy the Esporta fitness club operator. Esporta, which was bought by property entrepreneur Simon Halabi for
476 million pounds in 2006 in a deal backed by SG, has been beset with difficulties ever since. Both its
finance director and chief executive left shortly after the acquisition, membership is reportedly down and its
parent companies were placed in administration in 2007.
WOLFSON SUFFERS SHARP SALES FALL
Audio chip maker Wolfson Microelectronics <WLF.L> said it suffered a 48 percent drop in fourth-quarter
sales. Wolfson was recently fined 140,000 pounds by the Financial Services Authority for failing to disclose
the loss of a supply deal for Apple's iPod range in 2008. Since the fine earlier this year Wolfson has cut jobs
and focused on shoring up its balance sheet. The new chief executive, Mike Hickey, said he expects tough
months ahead and that the group would seek to "conserve cash and innovate".
SHIPPING LINE TO MOVE HQ TO LIVERPOOL
Maersk Line U.K and Ireland, a shipping subsidiary of the Danish AP Moller-Maersk Group is to move its
headquarters from London to Liverpool. The move has pleased regional leaders who hope that Maersk's
initiative will start a trend among businesses to invest in Britain' lower-cost provincial cities. It is understood
70 posts will be moved whilst other AP Moller-Maersk Group entities will keep their headquarters in London.
Ben Platt, a senior executive with the group, said: "We want to reduce the communications gap between
head office and the others and build a tighter team."
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
6
...............................................................
** The Times **
OFGEM ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR GREEN ENERGY CLAIMS
Ofgem yesterday called for the creation of an independent accreditation scheme for green energy tariffs,
after claims that some energy suppliers had misled customers about their environmental credentials. The
energy regulator proposed guidelines whereby a tariff would only be considered "green" if it provided
environmental benefits above and beyond suppliers' renewable energy obligation. The "Big Six" energy
suppliers have all pledged to sign up to the new guidelines, which Ofgem hopes will be in place by this
summer.
COMPETITION COMMISSION KILLS OFF BIG BROADCASTERS' PLAN FOR RIVAL TO YOUTUBE
The Competition Commission has ruled Project Kangaroo, a video-on-demand website to rival YouTube,
proposed by the BBC [BBC.UL], ITV <ITV.L> and Channel 4, would be anti-competitive. Project Kangaroo
was intended to create a one stop website of all three broadcasters where viewers could catch up on
recently transmitted programmes. The fact that it failed to win approval came as a big surprise to industry
insiders. "This seems to be a bizarre decision which fails to recognise the enormous competition provided by
imported TV programmes. The last thing (broadcasters) need is regulators stepping in and stopping what
would have been both a popular service for consumers and an effective way of bolstering British-made
content," said Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary.
** The Daily Telegraph **
M&S WINS FIVE MILLION POUND TEACAKE FIGHT
Marks and Spencer <MKS.L> has come out on top of a 13-year conflict with HM Revenue and Customs over
a row which centred on whether the marshmallow tea cake was a cake, as M&S contended, or a chocolatecovered
biscuit. Under current VAT laws cakes, and plain biscuits are tax free, while chocolate-covered
biscuits, are considered a luxury and incur VAT. Yesterday three Law Lords said last year's European Court
of Justice decision that M&S was entitled to a full refund stood.
LENDERS WORKING WITH INEOS TO AMEND TERMS ON 6.1 BILLION POUND DEBT BURDEN
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
7
Lenders to chemicals giant Ineos [INEOSP.UL] have joined forces with Britain's biggest private company to
revise the terms of its 6.1 billion pound debt. Lead creditors Merrill Lynch and Barclays Capital gathered a
group of about 10 other lenders to act as an advisory group representing the 250 banks or funds that make
up Ineos' loan syndicate. While Ineo's debt is trading at a big discount to face value, it does still have about
900 million pounds of cash on its balance sheet.
SKY SHARES BENEFIT FROM FOOTBALL TV RIGHTS DEALS
BSkyB <BSY.L> has won at least four out of six Premier League live rights packages. The win has put
Setanta's future as a live Premier League broadcaster in doubt due to the fierce competition for the 2010-13
live rights. BSkyB, however. saw a rise of 11.25 pence on its shares, taking them to 498.25 pence on the
back of the news that the satellite broadcaster would be bidding for a fifth package in the second round
auction.
** The Independent **
JD SPORTS BUCKS GLOOM
JD Sports <JD.L> this week reported that strong Christmas sales had continued into the beginning of 2009
and said the company's full-year profits would likely beat city expectations. The news comes as a boost to
the high street retail sector which has been badly hit during the credit crisis. Recent figures show like-for-like
sales up 2.8 percent in the five weeks to January.
CLIFFORD CHANCE SET TO CULL PARTNERSHIP
London-based law firm Clifford Chance has said it is preparing a partnership cull to uphold profitability as
client-based business slows. The world's largest law firm also confirmed the shake-up could lead to the
shutting down of some of its 30 international offices. The move would have to be approved by the firm's 400
equity partners first, which includes about 200 salaried partners. Clifford Chance is one of the leading legal
advisers on debt transactions in the banking sector which has left it particularly exposed to the credit crunch.
RBS PLEDGES THREE BILLION POUNDS OF NEW LENDING
The Royal Bank of Scotland <RBS.L> has said it would increase lending to UK small and medium
enterprises by around three billion pounds this year.
The bank, which is government-controlled, said it would be setting up 12 local funds. Each fund will have at
its disposal 250 million pounds to disperse between the sectors. The bank said all funds would be run locally
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
8
by the bank's regional managers. RBS has also recently promised to guarantee overdrafts and prices for the
small business community.
** The Guardian **
EXPECTED RATE CUT WILL LEAVE SOME HOMEOWNERS PAYING PENNIES
Homeowners across the UK with tracker mortgages could soon be paying little or no interest if the Bank of
England goes ahead and cuts its rate to one percent today. The rate currently stands at 1.5 percent, but
many are predicting a 0.5 percent drop which would take levels to their lowest ever.
If the rate falls below zero percent, customers could end up being owed money by their banks. However,
Cheltenham & Gloucester made clear it would not let the rate fall below the zero percent mark and said
interest was payable only by the customer.
RAIL OPERATORS RAISE FEARS OVER PRICE CUTS AS RPI FALLS
Rail industry insiders have said ministers face the politically fraught decision on whether they should enforce
rail fare increases next year after train operators confirmed ticket prices would be falling in 2010. The
Association of Train Operating Companies told MPs inflation could be the main factor in forcing down fares.
At yesterday's transport select committee, ATOC commercial director David Mapp, when asked by MPs if
fares would be cut in 2010. said it was in the Department for Transport's hands.
AVIVA BACKTRACKS ON 1,000 POUND WINDFALL FOR POLICYHOLDERS
Britain's largest insurer Aviva <AV.L> has apologised to policyholders after backtracking on a promise to
hand one million policyholders a windfall payment of around one thousand pounds each. Aviva has been
forced to rethink the windfalls amid the current financial turmoil. Aviva shares, however, climbed by 11.19
percent after Andrew Moss, its chief executive, made clear Aviva did not have plans to cut its dividend and
would not be tapping investors for fresh cash because its capital cushion was expanding.
--------------------------------------------------------------
** Wall Street Journal **
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
9
* The White House set strict new rules on salary for executives at firms seeking "exceptional" government
aid.
* The government's tough negotiations with Bank of America Corp <BAC.N> over its acquisition of Merrill
Lynch suggest that the U.S. sees itself as firmly in charge of financial firms propped up by taxpayer-funded
capital.
* EchoStar Corp <SATS.O> has quietly accumulated a big portion of Sirius XM Radio Inc's <SIRI.O>
maturing debt in what could be the first salvo in an attempt to take control of the embattled company.
* The U.S. Bankruptcy Court released a 162-page document with the names of several thousand clients who
lost money investing with Bernard Madoff.
* A close look at American International Group Inc's <AIG.N> 2,000-employee AIG Investments unit shows
how this part of the conglomerate made gambles that helped cripple the firm.
* Lenovo Group Ltd <0992.HK> is replacing American Chief Executive Bill Amelio with Chairman Yang
Yuanqing and bringing back co-founder Liu Chuanzhi to head the board, putting the struggling computer
maker back in the hands of Chinese executives.
* Small mortgage lenders are pushing for a slice of the federal support that is propping up giants like
Citigroup Inc <C.N>. These lenders say they are being starved of the credit they need to make home loans,
reducing competition in a mortgage market increasingly dominated by a few giant banks.
* Beleaguered auto-parts suppliers are following the lead of Detroit's Big Three in seeking aid from the
federal government. In a request to the U.S. Treasury Department, an industry group representing 400 parts
makers asks for $25.5 billion in aid and guarantees.
* Sales in China's intensely competitive auto industry exceeded the U.S.
for the first time last month. But even as the industry gains a higher global profile, it is about to get leaner --
and potentially less splintered.
* A Dubai-based aircraft-leasing company called LCAL, set up specifically to handle Boeing Co's <BA.N>
787 Dreamliner, has decided to cancel 16 of the
21 jetliners it had on order. This marks the second time this month that a customer has chosen to walk away
from the long-awaited airplane.
* Even as Eastman Kodak Co <EK.N> tried to reassure investors it has the cash and products needed to
remain viable, the photography icon offered more evidence that its business is deteriorating.
A n g l o I n t e r n a t i o n a l H o u s e, Ba n k H i l , D o u g l a s , I s l e o f Ma n, IM1 4LN
T e l e p h o n e : 0 1 6 2 4 6 1 9 0 0 0 F A X : 0 1 6 2 4 6 1 9 1 1 1
Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
10
...............................................................
** NY Times Business **
* U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled a salary cap of $500,000 for top executives at companies that
receive the largest amounts of bailout money.
* In addition to salary caps for some banks receiving aid, President Barack Obama called for a review of
executive perks.
* With tighter regulations on risk-taking and greater public scrutiny, the pay for top bankers could fall into line
with pay for other professions, like doctors and lawyers.
* Regulators could not cool the Congressional fury on Wednesday over their failure to act on tips that might
have exposed the Madoff scandal almost a decade ago.
* Most consumers are about to lose access to one version of their all-important credit score. As of Feb. 14,
consumers will not be able to see credit scores based on data from Experian, one of the three major credit
bureaus.
* Despite the chatter about trade protectionism, foreign businesses are gearing up to win a piece of the U.S.
stimulus package.
* Hollywood may at last be having its Napster moment -- struggling against the video version of the digital
looting that capsized the music business. Widely available broadband access and new streaming sites have
made it easy to watch pirated video online.
* Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple Inc <AAPL.O>, is expected to become chief scientist at Fusion-io,
a start-up company that tweaks computers to let them tap vast amounts of storage at very quick rates.
* If Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc <TKTM.O> and Live Nation Inc <LYV.N> agree to merge, it would
become an early test of the Obama administration's views on concentrated corporate power.
* Hyundai Motor Co Ltd's <005380.KS> new marketing strategy promises to let buyers return their vehicles if
they lose their jobs.
* Wrinkled faces may be the latest example of recession chic as even less-expensive cosmetic treatments
have become subject to the economic downturn.
A n g l o I n t e r n a t i o n a l H o u s e, Ba n k H i l , D o u g l a s , I s l e o f Ma n, IM1 4LN
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Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
11
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** Washington Post Business **
The Obama administration's announcement that it would toughen executive compensation restrictions at
some firms receiving federal aid signaled a broader strategy to remake how Wall Street's top financiers are
paid, officials said.
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Lawmakers gave officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission a severe tongue-lashing on
Wednesday over investment fund manager Bernard L.
Madoff, accused of running nothing more than a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
---
Hilton Hotels said that it has chosen a new corporate home: Fairfax County, Virginia. The hotel chain last
month announced it was moving to the Washington region from Beverly Hills.
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Congress risks undermining the Federal Reserve's independence if it provides the cental bank with new
powers to manage the financial system, former Fed chairman Paul Volcker said on Wednesday.
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General Motors' new plug-in electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, will go on sale in Washington and San Francisco
first, the automaker announced this week, as it began laying plans to work with area government and power
companies to ease the car's introduction.
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Hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. are waiting longer than they should for unemployment
benefits at a time when they need the money the most because rising joblessness is overwhelming claims
offices, records show.
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A n g l o I n t e r n a t i o n a l H o u s e, Ba n k H i l , D o u g l a s , I s l e o f Ma n, IM1 4LN
T e l e p h o n e : 0 1 6 2 4 6 1 9 0 0 0 F A X : 0 1 6 2 4 6 1 9 1 1 1
Morning Market Report
05/02/2009
Comments do not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be
sought.
Collins Stewart Wealth Management is a trading name of Collins Stewart (CI) Limited ("CSCI"). CSCI is licensed and regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and the International Capital Market
Association. CSCI is a subsidiary of Collins Stewart plc. Registered office: Hirzel House, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1
2NG. Registered in Guernsey no. 22761. The Geneva office is a representative office of CSCI.
12
President Obama, who swept to the White House on a message of hope and inspiration, is struggling to
contend with a different emotion among
Americans: anger, fueled by lost jobs, decimated retirement accounts and countless stories about the
excesses of the wealthy.
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Known as a prosecutor who was unflinchingly tough on crime, Attorney General Eric Holder is also a former
civil rights lawyer who has mentored young black men. Many advocates view him as the best chance in
decades to right what they consider unchecked racial disparity in the criminal justice system.
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Congress approved a four-month delay of the switch to digital television, the latest chapter in a troubled
effort by the government to clear airwave space for emergency responders and wireless services.
