Retailers have been cutting jobs amid falling demand. Boots announced another wave of job cuts yesterday and this suggests there will be more increases in claims.

Escalating concern that rioting which has plagued the French capital for 12 straight nights may spread to other countries is the latest uncertainty to affect the single currency.

These comments have reduced expectations that we will see any hint of a pause in tightening in Greenspan's testimony on Wednesday.

People are heavy of dollars at present and the U.S. is shut so there is some squaring of positions.

In the short term these difficulties won't have too much impact because of the broader trends that are under way. But if this continues it may start to have an impact on the strength of house prices and inward investment.