RAMSEY CROOKALL

16th  August

Evening Report

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.1%. Disappointing GDP data out of Europe resurrected concerns about the health of the euro zone but the London index pared losses after better-than- expected US industrial production data. Meanwhile, banks and oil stocks managed to eke out small gains in the dying minutes of trading. But lower copper prices hurt the likes of Antofagasta and Vendata Resources. On Wednesday, the Bank of England's minutes from the August meeting will be released at 0830 GMT, at the same time as the UK employment rate and claimant count data. US PPI for July is at 1230 GMT.

In company news, Randgold Resources posted gains, tracking the price of gold higher as investors looked to safety. The stock closed up 1.38%

Resolution, the UK insurance buyout firm founded by Clive Cowdery, dipped into the red despite saying that it is on target to achieving its restructuring strategy as operating profits more than doubled in the six months ended 30 June.

Production more than trebled at one of Heritage Oil's Russian fields, as results from drilling and testing one well exceeded pre-drill expectations.

Water group Pennon announced that trading has been in line with management expectations since March 31. Pennon closed down 1.94%.

THE FTSE 100 closed                         Up          7       @     5357

THE DOW JONES at 16:45                     Down 52 @ 11430                       NASDAQ COM at 16:45                         Down       24       @     2530                               Commodities

Spot Gold $/Oz            $1780 Brent Crude Oil          $109.53 September Delivery     Exchange Rates GBP – USD           1.6420 GBP - EURO         1.1396











































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