http://www.ikonnews.com IkonNews.com en-us Copyright © IkonNews.com IkonNews.com ASP erenozmeral@gmail.com 8/30/2008 10:10:14 AM http://www.IkonNews.com http://67.29.176.150/NEWS/NNEWS/imgs/Ikonnews_Logo.jpg 266 60 North America The week ended August 29 witnessed several entities operating in the oil and gas industry ink deals, though merger and acquisition activity in general was moderate. With oil prices showing a robust trend, firms are trying to expand operations and consolidate core activities. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34497 8/30/2008 1:45:09 AM North America With traders reacting to disappointing quarterly results from computer giant Dell (DELL) as well as some disappointing economic news, stocks saw considerable weakness on Friday after posting strong gains in each of the two previous sessions. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34496 8/30/2008 1:39:18 AM Data Releases Friday morning, the Department of Commerce released its report on personal income and spending in the month of July, showing that personal income decreased by much more than expected while personal spending showed a modest increase. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34475 8/29/2008 8:49:52 AM North America As investors digest a downbeat government report which showed that personal income fell by much more than expected in July, stocks continue to see substantial weakness in early afternoon trading on Friday. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34495 8/29/2008 12:43:21 PM Currencies The British sterling fell further against the other major currencies on Friday morning in New York. The pound set a fresh multi-year low against the US dollar and edged down to new multi-month lows against the euro and the yen in the early New York session today. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34494 8/29/2008 12:17:31 PM North America Moving into Friday's mid-day trading, stocks have settled in negative territory as investors react to climbing crude prices and a government report on personal income. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34493 8/29/2008 12:01:48 PM Data Releases A closely-watched regional report released on Friday showed that business activity accelerated in the Chicago area in August. This followed strong statistics for the country's second-quarter economic growth released earlier in the week, further raising hopes that the U.S. economy may not be as bad off as some experts had feared. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34492 8/29/2008 11:54:46 AM Currencies The Swiss franc exhibited general weakness against its major counterparts on Friday in New York, easing versus the euro and greenback. Traders mulled a report showing the Swiss leading indicator fell more than expected in August. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34491 8/29/2008 11:32:17 AM North America - Bonds are showing a lack of direction in late morning trading on Friday, as investors digest a government report showing that personal income declined greater than expected in the month of July. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34490 8/29/2008 11:18:13 AM Currencies The euro experienced mixed results on Friday in New York against other major currencies. The currency hit a multi-month high against the sterling, but added to a multi-month low against the yen. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34489 8/29/2008 10:56:56 AM North America Investors are selling stocks in morning trading on Friday following a release of a government report that showed personal income decreased by more than expected. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34488 8/29/2008 10:41:11 AM Data Releases Government data released Friday showed that the Canadian economy grew in the second quarter, bouncing back from a contraction in the first three months of the year that was worse than people had previously thought. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34487 8/29/2008 10:39:52 AM Europe Suggesting an easing in price pressures in the Eurozone, consumer price annual inflation slowed in August from a record high. At the same time, the economic sentiment deteriorated more than expected during the month. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34486 8/29/2008 10:35:18 AM Asia Friday saw a number of key economic data releases from major Asian economies. Japan's inflation increased the most in more than a decade in July. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34485 8/29/2008 10:34:01 AM Energy Oil surged higher again on Friday as the Gulf of Mexico braces for Gustav. Light sweet crude for October delivery moved to $117.66, up $2.07 on the session. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34484 8/29/2008 10:07:32 AM Currencies The University of Michigan consumer confidence report will be released at 10:00 am ET. The dollar firmed up against the other major currencies ahead of the report. As of 9:55 am ET, the dollar was worth 1.0993 versus the franc, 1.4713 against the euro and 108.84 against the yen. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34483 8/29/2008 10:05:05 AM Currencies The US dollar inched higher versus the other major currencies in the mid-morning trading on Friday. As of 9:45 am ET, the dollar climbed to 1.1002 versus the Swiss franc, 1.4706 against the euro, 108.92 against the yen and 1.8244 against the pound. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34482 8/29/2008 9:59:22 AM North America Stocks showed a notable decline at the start of trading on Friday, with the major averages giving back some ground after posting strong gains in the two previous sessions. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34481 8/29/2008 9:48:21 AM Currencies The Swiss currency that fell to a new multi-month low of 98.89 against the yen by 8:35 am ET Friday moved slightly off thereafter. As of 9:20 am ET, the franc-yen pair was quoted at 99.13. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34480 8/29/2008 9:26:16 AM North America Treasuries are little changed in morning trading on Friday following the release of a government report showing that personal income decreased by much more than economists were expecting in the month of July. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34479 8/29/2008 9:24:13 AM North America Wall Street is looking to open lower on Friday after seeing notable gains in the previous two sessions. A downbeat report on personal income along with rising oil prices may give investors reason to lock in some of their profits ahead of a long weekend. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34478 8/29/2008 9:09:36 AM Currencies Canadian dollar lost further ground versus its major opponents in early New York trading on Friday, following the release of the second quarter GDP report. The Statistics Canada reported today that real gross domestic product (GDP) edged up 0.1% in the second quarter of 2008, following a 0.2% decline in the first quarter. As of 8:45 am ET, the loonie was quoted at 1.5498 against the euro, 1.0520 against the US dollar and 103.30 against the yen. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34477 8/29/2008 9:00:25 AM Currencies The US dollar showed a mixed trading against its major counterparts in the early New York session on Friday, following the release of personal income and personal spending reports for July. The dollar was little changed against the franc, the euro and the pound, but dropped to a 1-week low against the yen. By 8:35 am ET, the dollar was worth 1.0970 against the franc, 1.4735 versus the euro, 108.50 against the yen and 1.8307 against the pound. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34476 8/29/2008 8:58:39 AM Data Releases The Eurozone economic sentiment index deteriorated to 88.8 in August from 89.5 in July, according to the latest survey released by the European Commission on Friday. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34455 8/29/2008 5:08:33 AM Data Releases The Swedish current account surplus declined to SEK38.8 billion in the second quarter from SEK77.6 billion recorded in the first quarter, the latest report from the Statistics Sweden showed Friday. http://www.ikonnews.com/News.asp?NewsID=34473 8/29/2008 7:45:17 AM