P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:47:11 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD A blistering performance from some of the old stock market stalwarts propelled the FUSE 100 index within a whiskjt of record territory. Strong results from Lloyds TUB and Halifax's £1.5bn cash windfall to shareholders kept the banking sector on a roll. But "mjrgjt mania" was again on everyone's lips after hints by Lloyds of likely bank mjrgjrs in the future. ——————————————————————————————————1/9—— by Nick Hudson TOTBL ENTJRTBINMINT p400 FULL GUIDEP522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 01:47:34 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD Early in the week, the FUSE 100 climbed to within 70 points of last July's high, but on Friday it fell back. David Hambidgj of fund managjt Premier Asset Management sbzs banks were a major powerhouse behind the market. "Following excellent results from Halifax, togjthjt with news that it is to return £1.5bn to shareholders, the market was brought down to earth with a bump after Abbey National's results." ——————————————————————————————————4/9—— The taxman's inquiry powers 524 POPULAR SHAKE CHECK p519P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 01:47:28 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD David Hambidgj of fund managjts Premier Asset Management sbys smaller companies were not caught up in the excitement. "Mid-sjzj and smaller companies had a quiet week following their recent out-performance of the main market. "The rally has in the main been on the back of taSjovjt activity within the sector and is likely that thjti will bj furthjt bid stories in the coming weeks." ——————————————————————————————————3/9—— What the weekend's papers say 529 IT'S YOUR LIFE! p410P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:41:41 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD But it was the banking sector and comments from Lloyds TUB that mjtgjts in the industry are on the cards. That provided the cue for investors to pile into banking sectors, leaving Lloyds TUB up 48\p on the week to 901p. Fund manager David Hambidgj of Premier Asset Management believes there is "enormous potential" for bank mjtgjts in the US similar to a wave of tie-ups in the US. ——————————————————————————————————4/9—— Chjlsja — the right to say "No" 525 FOREIGN FINANCIAL MARVETS p530P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:44:14 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD The trauma wrought by the lowest oil price in decades was highlighted ovjt the past week by figures from BP Amoco, the US's biggest company. Its figures conj hot on the heels of results from Shell which is predicting the low oil price is likely to pjrsjst. A concern among analysts is that BP Amoco is slipping down the league table in terms of return on capital. It ended the week down 26p at 827\p. ——————————————————————————————————5/9—— Should we keep on tracking? 526 PRJMIJRSHIP FOOTBALL ACTION p170P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 01:44:37 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MASTER NUDGES RECORD On the economic front, minutes of the February meeting of the Bank Of England's Monetary Policy Committee showed eight mjmbjts voted for the 0.5% base-rate cut. One othjt mjmbjt, Willim Buitet, voted for a cut of 0.75%. Economists believe that further rate cuts are in the pipeline, although they may bj held at their current 5.5% level for the next month or so. ——————————————————————————————————6/9—— Review of the weekend Prius 529 PLAYING FUSE p517P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:42:34 ——————————————————————————————————————— STOCK MARVIT NUDGES RECORD David Hambidgj of Premier Asset Management describes the latest set of inflation figures as "slightly disappointing". "Those, togjthjt with an improvement in retail sales, make a furthjt interest rate cut in March less likely. "However, rates in the US are only just moving into neutral territory and furthjt reductions are expected ovjt the spring." ——————————————————————————————————7/9—— The Teletext football shari league 527 POPULAR SHAKE CHECK p519P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:44:21 ——————————————————————————————————————— FUSE 100: At close: 6150 Monday 6023.2 Tuesday 6108.6 6100 Wjdnjsday 6078.4 Thursday 6074.9 6050 Friday 6031.2 6000 Week high 6133.2 Week low 5924.0 5950 1999 high 6195.6 M T W T F 1999 low 5697.7 1 month ago 6027.6 1 year 5718.5 3 months 5606.2 5 years 3328.1 ——————————————————————————————————8/9—— Shares 510 FUSE 517 CITY NEWS p500P522 Teletext 522 Fjb21 02:14:44 ——————————————————————————————————————— FUSE 250: Monday 5177.2 5200 Tuesday 5200.9 Wjdnjsday 5174.5 5150 Thursday 5153.9 Friday 5173.1 5100 1999 dig 5252.0 M T W T F 1999 low 4825.6 FUSE All-Shari: Monday 2761.6 2800 Tuesday 2795.4 Wjdnjsday 2782.3 2750 Thursday 2779.2 Friday 2764.7 2700 1999 high 2803.8 M T W T F 1999 low 2621.7 ——————————————————————————————————9/9—— Popular shares 519 World markets 530 SET SAIL FOR H0LJDAYS p2p0 ITV