May 16: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.109 %
Standard deviation	0.609
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	8
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	7

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	136	181	190	117
Avg. % change	0.125%	0.033%	0.018%	0.065%
Standard deviation % change	0.588	0.793	0.954	0.271
No. of times price has gone up	12	10	9	3
No. of times price has gone down	8	11	11	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
French set to defy government over scrapped holiday (AFP)
Ministers plan simulation of EU financial crisis (FT.com)
Brown still firm on British rebate (AFP)
Germany, 5 Others Reject EU Budget Hike (AP)
EU ministers agree on small tax on air travel for development aid (AFP)
Britain's Brown still firm on British rebate (AFP)
European stocks hit by Wall Street tumble, oil price slide (AFP)
Car Sales in Europe Down Vs. Last Year (AP)
Dell net profit rises as PC sales rebound (Reuters)
EU calls for compromise with Cyprus on trade with north (AFP)
London shares close off session highs as Wal-Mart profit warning weighs (AFP)

On this day
1891 George A Hormel & Company introduce their new food Spam.

BBC - On This Day
1943: Germans crush Jewish uprising
Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto is over after a month of bloody fighting.
1974: Dozens die in Israeli reprisal for Ma'alot
Israeli planes bomb seven Palestinian refugee camps and villages in southern Lebanon.
1985: Miners jailed for pit strike murder
Two South Wales miners are jailed for life for the murder of taxi driver David Wilkie during the miners' strike.
1968: Three die as tower block collapses
Two women and a man are killed after an entire corner of a new block of flats in London's East End collapses.
1990: Gummer enlists daughter in BSE fight
The government again attempts to reassure the public that British beef is safe despite growing fears over BSE.
2001: Prescott punches protester
Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott punches a man who throws an egg at him during a visit to north Wales.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 16

May 15: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.289 %
Standard deviation	0.878
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	7
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	9

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	48	62	189	91
Avg. % change	0.312%	0.384%	0.019%	0.117%
Standard deviation % change	1.245	1.804	1.218	0.423
No. of times price has gone up	13	12	11	4
No. of times price has gone down	8	11	8	1

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Germany, 5 Others Reject EU Budget Hike (AP)
EU ministers agree on small tax on air travel for development aid (AFP)
Britain's Brown still firm on British rebate (AFP)
European stocks hit by Wall Street tumble, oil price slide (AFP)
Car Sales in Europe Down Vs. Last Year (AP)
Dell net profit rises as PC sales rebound (Reuters)
EU calls for compromise with Cyprus on trade with north (AFP)
London shares close off session highs as Wal-Mart profit warning weighs (AFP)
German Economy Expands 1 Percent in 1Q (AP)
IMF agrees 10-billion-dollar credit for Turkey (AFP)
Bank Trims Its Economic Growth Forecast (AP)

BBC - On This Day
1957: Britain drops its first H-bomb
After just two years of development, Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb over Christmas Island, as the arms race begins to escalate.
1974: Teenagers die in Israeli school attack
Sixteen teenagers die along with three Palestinians holding them hostage at an Israeli school near the Lebanese border.
1993: French police rescue child hostages
A hostage crisis at a nursery school in Paris ends when commandos storm the school - and the children's teacher is hailed a hero.
1954: Queen returns after lengthy voyage
The Royal Family returns safely from their six-month tour of the Commonwealth to a rapturous welcome in London.
2001: UK supermarkets slash price of drugs
British consumers reap the benefits of cheaper over-the-counter medicine after a court ruling puts an end to the drug industry's price-fixing policy.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 15

May 14: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.449 %
Standard deviation	1.263
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	11
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	5

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	122	143	18	24
Avg. % change	0.147%	0.126%	0.51%	0.361%
Standard deviation % change	0.668	1.172	1.092	2.771
No. of times price has gone up	11	11	15	3
No. of times price has gone down	8	12	5	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
EU to Redesign Euro Coins; Outlook Mixed (AP)
European stocks hit by Wall Street tumble, oil price slide (AFP)
Car Sales in Europe Down Vs. Last Year (AP)
Dell net profit rises as PC sales rebound (Reuters)
EU calls for compromise with Cyprus on trade with north (AFP)
London shares close off session highs as Wal-Mart profit warning weighs (AFP)
German Economy Expands 1 Percent in 1Q (AP)
IMF agrees 10-billion-dollar credit for Turkey (AFP)
Bank Trims Its Economic Growth Forecast (AP)
Putin lambasts Baltics, sours Russia-EU summit (Reuters)
European Parliament calls for EU funds to help Northern Ireland family sue IRA (Canadian Press)

On this day
2002 The Daily Mirror and the Sun both cut the price of their daily papers to 20p. This battle of the tabloids broke out this week and was expected to cost more than £1m a week each in lost revenue.

BBC - On This Day
1955: Communist states sign Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies sign a defence pact in the Polish capital, Warsaw, places all member countries under one military command.
1991: Mandela's wife jailed for kidnaps
Winnie Mandela, the wife of anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela, is given a six-year jail term for her part in the kidnap of four youths.
1964: Nasser and Khrushchev divert the Nile
The Egyptian and Russian leaders end phase one of the construction of the Aswan High Dam by blowing up a huge sand barrage to divert the course of the Nile.
1957: Cheers as petrol rationing ended
Relief across the country as the paymaster general announces restrictions on fuel consumption imposed during the Suez crisis are to be lifted.
2001: Scientists warn of more CJD cases
Variant CJD - the human form of BSE or "mad cow disease"- has been found in 99 people so far - but scientists warn a "second wave"in several years could be much larger.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 14

May 13: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.365 %
Standard deviation	0.823
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	5
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	10

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	59	187	123	11
Avg. % change	0.282%	0.013%	0.171%	0.533%
Standard deviation % change	0.877	2.146	0.879	1.615
No. of times price has gone up	13	13	10	4
No. of times price has gone down	6	8	10	1

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Dell net profit rises as PC sales rebound (Reuters)
EU calls for compromise with Cyprus on trade with north (AFP)
London shares close off session highs as Wal-Mart profit warning weighs (AFP)
German Economy Expands 1 Percent in 1Q (AP)
European stocks robust after Wall Street rebound (AFP)
IMF agrees 10-billion-dollar credit for Turkey (AFP)
Bank Trims Its Economic Growth Forecast (AP)
Putin lambasts Baltics, sours Russia-EU summit (Reuters)
European Parliament calls for EU funds to help Northern Ireland family sue IRA (Canadian Press)
Afghan president calls for long-term EU rebuilding commitment (AFP)
Russia-EU Relationship Based on Solid Core (AP)

On this day
1967 An octagonal boxing ring was first tested to avoid corner injuries.

BBC - On This Day
1981: Thousands see Pope shot in Rome
Crowds in St Peter's Square in Rome are stunned by the close-range shooting of the Pope.
1989: British war hero 'seized' in Beirut
British war hero Jackie Mann,74, is feared kidnapped in Beirut after disappearing in the Lebanese capital.
1968: Workers join Paris student protest
A one-day workers' general strike is called in solidarity with students calling for the fall of government and protesting police brutality.
1995: British woman conquers Everest
A British mother of two becomes the first woman to conquer Everest without oxygen or the help of sherpas.
1977: Cricket captain sacked over 'circus'
England captain Tony Greig is fired for recruiting players to Australian media mogul Kerry Packer's rival World XI team in what is seen as a "breach of trust".

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 13

May 12: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.058 %
Standard deviation	0.759
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	8

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	256	177	171	53
Avg. % change	-0.097%	0.038%	0.07%	0.224%
Standard deviation % change	0.759	1.569	1.053	1.768
No. of times price has gone up	8	9	14	2
No. of times price has gone down	12	13	5	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
IMF agrees 10-billion-dollar credit for Turkey (AFP)
Bank Trims Its Economic Growth Forecast (AP)
European stocks mixed in early deals after Wall Street slide (AFP)
Putin lambasts Baltics, sours Russia-EU summit (Reuters)
European Parliament calls for EU funds to help Northern Ireland family sue IRA (Canadian Press)
Afghan president calls for long-term EU rebuilding commitment (AFP)
German Export Growth Slower in March (AP)
Russia-EU Relationship Based on Solid Core (AP)
Britain set for weaker economy, whether or not Brown is finance chief (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)

On this day
1997 The merger of Grand Met and Guinness was announced, which gave the new group control of nearly half the worldwide Scotch whiskey market through brands such as Johnnie Walker and J&B.

BBC - On This Day
1994: Labour leader John Smith dies at 55
The Labour leader John Smith dies in a London hospital after two serious heart attacks.
1981: Second IRA protester dies in jail
Francis Hughes starves to death in the Maze Prison in a Republican campaign for political status to be granted to IRA prisoners.
1967: Stansted to become London's third airport
The Government gives the go-ahead to proposals to convert Stansted into an international airport.
2000: Ford quits Dagenham after 70 years
Ford workers at its Dagenham plant react with shock and anger at the news that car production is to be transferred to Germany and Spain, with the loss of 3,000 jobs.
1971: Row rocks Rolling Stone wedding
The Rolling Stones singer, Mick Jagger, marries his fiancee Bianca Perez Morena de Macias after a row with the media nearly halts proceedings.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 12

May 11: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.285 %
Standard deviation	1.21
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	5
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	9

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	109	203	110	229
Avg. % change	0.167%	-0.026%	0.199%	-0.082%
Standard deviation % change	0.44	1.414	0.821	0.359
No. of times price has gone up	11	11	11	2
No. of times price has gone down	7	10	7	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Putin lambasts Baltics, sours Russia-EU summit (Reuters)
European Parliament calls for EU funds to help Northern Ireland family sue IRA (Canadian Press)
Afghan president calls for long-term EU rebuilding commitment (AFP)
German Export Growth Slower in March (AP)
European stocks climb in early trade (AFP)
Russia-EU Relationship Based on Solid Core (AP)
European bourses set for opening losses (FT.com)
Britain set for weaker economy, whether or not Brown is finance chief (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)

On this day
1998 Thomson Travel Group announced the offer price of its shares at 170 pence, valuing the company at £1.7 billion. The institutional offer is six times subscribed and the retail offer three times subscribed.

BBC - On This Day
1985: Fans killed in Bradford stadium fire
At least 52 people are known to have died and many are missing after fire engulfs Bradford City football stadium.
1998: India explodes nuclear controversy
The Indian government announces it has carried out a series of underground nuclear tests in a move which has shocked the world.
1963: Moscow jails British 'spy'
A British businessman accused of spying for the West is sentenced to eight years' detention by a Moscow tribunal.
1956: Gold Coast to get independence
Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd announces the Gold Coast is to become the first black African nation to be granted independence from Britain.
1971: Britain's oldest tabloid closes
The Daily Sketch newspaper which was founded in 1909 has been published for the last time.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 11

May 10: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.015 %
Standard deviation	1.002
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	9
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	6

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	95	147	158	210
Avg. % change	0.192%	0.114%	0.097%	-0.051%
Standard deviation % change	0.965	1.993	1.365	0.224
No. of times price has gone up	12	11	8	1
No. of times price has gone down	7	10	12	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Russia and EU agree on a breakthrough deal (Reuters)
Russia-EU Relationship Based on Solid Core (AP)
European stocks drop in early trading (AFP)
European bourses set for opening losses (FT.com)
Britain set for weaker economy, whether or not Brown is finance chief (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)

On this day
1901 Edward Harriman and J.P Morgan battle for control of the Northern Pacific railroad and precipitate one of the first great panics on Wall Street. Samuel Bolton, a speculator who lost out, commits suicide by drowning himself in a vat of hot beer.

BBC - On This Day
1994: Mandela becomes SA's first black president
Nelson Mandela becomes South Africa's first black president after more than three centuries of white rule.
1940: Churchill takes helm as Germans advance
German forces invade the Low Countries by air and land, while in London, Chamberlain is replaced by Churchill.
1998: Sinn Fein backs peace deal
The political wing of the republican IRA back the Good Friday peace agreement heralding a major shift in modern republicanism.
1978: Italy mourns murdered statesman
The murdered Italian politician Aldo Moro is buried after a private funeral service, 55 days after he was kidnapped by the Red Brigade.
1967: Two Rolling Stones on drugs charges
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards appeared before magistrates charged with drug offences.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 10

May 9: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.011 %
Standard deviation	0.677
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	8
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	7

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	2	42	85	167
Avg. % change	0.964%	0.5%	0.257%	-0.008%
Standard deviation % change	4.079	2.244	1.093	1.031
No. of times price has gone up	12	12	12	2
No. of times price has gone down	8	11	8	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
European bourses set for opening losses (FT.com)
Britain set for weaker economy, whether or not Brown is finance chief (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
European stocks mostly fall, as Blair's election win pushes up FTSE (AFP)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)

On this day
1950 Sam Walton, co-founder of Wal-Mart, purchased his first store on this day in 1950 in Arkansas.

BBC - On This Day
1972: Israeli commandos storm hijacked jet
Twelve Israeli soldiers disguised as maintenance staff have stormed a hijacked Sabena Boeing at Lod airport in Tel Aviv and released the 100 people on board.
1979: El Salvador cathedral bloodbath
At least 18 demonstrators are shot dead and many wounded after police opened fire on anti-government protesters in El Salvador.
1988: Syria threatens force in Beirut
Syria has hinted for the first time it may send in troops to halt the bloodshed in the slums of southern Beirut.
1999: Chinese anger at embassy bombing
Major cities in China see their biggest demonstrations for years since the destruction by Nato bombs of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
1955: West Germany accepted into Nato
West Germany formally joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at a special ceremony in Paris.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 9

May 8: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.146 %
Standard deviation	1.072
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	7
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	8

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	274	219	207	208
Avg. % change	-0.13%	-0.08%	-0.012%	-0.044%
Standard deviation % change	1.553	1.418	0.843	1.037
No. of times price has gone up	9	10	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	11	11	9	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Britain set for weaker economy, whether or not Brown is finance chief (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
European stocks mostly fall, as Blair's election win pushes up FTSE (AFP)
FTSE 100 gains slightly after Labour win (FT.com)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)

On this day
1963 ""Dr No"" premiered in US, launching the greatest film franchise ever.

BBC - On This Day
1945: Rejoicing at end of war in Europe
The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, officially announces the end of the war with Germany
1984: Moscow pulls out of US Olympics
Twelve weeks before the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympic Games, the USSR announces it is boycotting them.
1968: Krays held on suspicion of murder
The Kray twins, Reginald and Ronnie and their brother Charlie are arrested after dawn raids by police in London.
1978: 'Son of Sam' pleads guilty to murders
The man alleged to have murdered six people in a killing spree last year has pleaded guilty to all the charges against him.
2000: Sneak preview of new Tate Modern
The world's largest modern art gallery opens its doors to the media in London.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 8

May 7: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.439 %
Standard deviation	0.679
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	9
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	4

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	312	140	97	107
Avg. % change	-0.224%	0.136%	0.22%	0.086%
Standard deviation % change	0.651	1.478	0.676	1.733
No. of times price has gone up	5	11	8	3
No. of times price has gone down	11	8	8	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
European stocks mostly fall, as Blair's election win pushes up FTSE (AFP)
FTSE 100 gains slightly after Labour win (FT.com)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)

On this day
1998 American auto giant Chrysler Corp. signed a $38 billion merger deal with German-based Daimler-Benz AG.

BBC - On This Day
1945: Germany signs unconditional surrender
Germany signs an unconditional surrender ending six years of war in Europe.
1976: Quake devastates northern Italy
Italy's worst ever earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale kills more than 550 people and leaves 80,000 homeless.
1965: Huge Rhodesia election win for Smith
White voters in the African colony of Rhodesia back Prime Minister Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front which is demanding independence from the UK.
2001: Thousands greet Pope in Syrian visit
Pope John Paul II prays for peace on a visit to the Syrian capital Damascus, where he is greeted by thousands of people.
1956: Minister rejects anti-smoking lobby
The Health Minister, RH Turton, rejects calls for a government campaign against smoking, saying no ill-effects have been proven.
2001: Healthy cattle to die to save Exmoor
More than 1,000 cattle on two farms near Exmoor will be slaughtered - even though they show no sign of foot-and-mouth disease - in order to protect Exmoor from infection.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 7

May 6: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.319 %
Standard deviation	0.887
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	3
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	7

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	142	202	130	12
Avg. % change	0.11%	-0.025%	0.151%	0.517%
Standard deviation % change	0.525	1.962	0.878	2.057
No. of times price has gone up	8	13	9	3
No. of times price has gone down	6	6	6	0

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
FTSE 100 gains slightly after Labour win (FT.com)
European shares gain amid quiet trading on upbeat US data (AFP)
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Short view (FT.com)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)

On this day
2002 Hewlett Packard completed its acquisition of Compaq and officially changed its NYSE stock symbol to HPQ on this day in 2002. The $18.5 billion stock swap deal was the largest ever in the information technology industry.
1997 The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, gave the Bank of England independence from political control.

BBC - On This Day
1966: Moors murderers jailed for life
Ian Brady and his lover Myra Hindley are sentenced to life imprisonment for the so-called Moors murders.
1960: Margaret weds Armstrong-Jones
Princess Margaret marries the photographer, Anthony Armstrong Jones, at Westminster Abbey
1994: President and Queen open Chunnel
The Queen and France's President Francois Mitterrand formally open the Channel Tunnel during two elaborate ceremonies in France and Britain.
1997: Brown sets Bank of England free
The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, gives the Bank of England independence from political control.
1954: Bannister breaks four-minute mile
Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old British medical student, becomes the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes.
2001: Second blast at London post office
A bomb explodes at a north London postal sorting office - the second such attack in three weeks - and has been linked to the Real IRA.
1988: Hick makes cricketing history
Graeme Hick, Worcestershire's 21-year-old prodigy, scores more than 400 runs in a county championship match - the highest innings in England this century.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 6

May 5: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.073 %
Standard deviation	0.806
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	5

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	305	76	267	302
Avg. % change	-0.215%	0.344%	-0.128%	-0.245%
Standard deviation % change	0.86	2.72	0.956	1.055
No. of times price has gone up	5	6	7	1
No. of times price has gone down	12	12	8	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Creo Inc. loses $4.1 million US in Q2: currency fluctuation, restructuring (Canadian Press)
ECB holds rates, markets await Trichet (Reuters)
European stocks rise amid US rate decision, on eve of British elections (AFP)
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Short view (FT.com)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
Earnings buoy European shares (FT.com)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)

BBC - On This Day
1980: SAS rescue ends Iran embassy siege
The siege of the Iranian embassy in London comes to a dramatic end after a raid by SAS commandos.
1981: Bobby Sands dies in prison
Hunger striker Bobby Sands dies in the Maze prison 66 days after first refusing to eat.
1961: Shepard becomes first US astronaut
Commander Alan Shepard returns to Earth and is rescued from his Mercury 3 capsule in the Atlantic after becoming the first American in space.
2001: Sun shines on foot-and-mouth crisis
Britain's tourist industry hopes the bank holiday weekend and good weather will attract visitors to areas previously closed due to foot-and-mouth disease.
1955: Dr Salk promotes polio vaccine in UK
World-famous American virologist Dr Jonas Salk witnesses a ceremonial polio vaccination in London.
1967: First all-British satellite 'Ariel 3' launched
The first ever all-British satellite is successfully launched into orbit from the United States.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 5

May 4: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.244 %
Standard deviation	0.866
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	5
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	6

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	269	232	311	335
Avg. % change	-0.121%	-0.114%	-0.258%	-0.554%
Standard deviation % change	1.205	1.062	1.753	2.219
No. of times price has gone up	7	6	8	1
No. of times price has gone down	7	10	6	2

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Germany's Schroeder meets Turkish leaders on EU bid, economic ties (AFP)
Short view (FT.com)
European stocks buoyant, led by London (AFP)
Euro-Zone Unemployment Up to 8.9 Percent (AP)
Earnings buoy European shares (FT.com)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)
European Stocks Dip After NY Loss (Reuters)
Mandelson calls for understanding from both EU, China (AFP)

On this day
2001 Chiefs at the Bank of Scotland and Halifax agreed terms today over their £30bn merger to create a new bank called HBOS.

BBC - On This Day
1979: Election victory for Margaret Thatcher
The Conservative Party wins the general election making Margaret Thatcher Britain's first woman prime minister.
1982: Argentines destroy HMS Sheffield
The British ship HMS Sheffield is sunk by an Argentine missile fired from a fighter bomber.
2000: Ken Livingstone voted London mayor
The London Mayoral contest ends in victory for Ken Livingstone, the independent candidate and maverick MP expelled from the Labour Party.
1966: Doctors and dentists get huge pay rise
Harold Wilson's government agrees to increase doctors' and dentists' salaries by up to 30% after fears thousands of GPs would leave the Health Service for private practice
1953: Duke of Edinburgh gets his wings
The Duke of Edinburgh is awarded his pilot's "wings"during a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 4

May 3: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.433 %
Standard deviation	1.082
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	6

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	56	100	47	291
Avg. % change	0.29%	0.27%	0.372%	-0.211%
Standard deviation % change	0.616	0.815	1.552	0.781
No. of times price has gone up	12	12	13	0
No. of times price has gone down	4	6	4	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Earnings buoy European shares (FT.com)
French economy minister hopes for deal stemming Chinese flood of textile exports (AFP)
Japanese PM urges EU to keep arms embargo on China (AFP)
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
European stocks claw back earlier losses amid mining rally (AFP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)
European Stocks Dip After NY Loss (Reuters)
Mandelson calls for understanding from both EU, China (AFP)
Shares close flat as NY losses offsets Glaxo surge (AFP)
European Stocks Fall, Bonds Wobble (Reuters)
Dollar Rebounds Against Euro (Reuters)

On this day
1973 £38.4 million public flotation of Rolls-Royce Motors announced.

BBC - On This Day
1986: Terrorist bomb kills 21 in Sri Lanka
A lethal bomb explodes on an Air Lanka passenger jet at Colombo's airport leaving 21 dead and 41 injured. The finger of blame points to the Tamil Tigers.
1968: Surgeons conduct UK's first heart transplant
The first heart transplant in Britain is carried out at the National Heart Hospital in Marylebone, London.
1951: King George opens Festival of Britain
The King inaugurates the Festival of Britain at a service in St Paul's Cathedral and later attends a concert at the new Royal Festival Hall on London's south bank.
2000: Leading stock exchanges plan merger
The London Stock Exchange and Germany's Deutsche Boerse confirm they are to merge, creating the world's second largest stock market.
1990: Latvia to declare independence
Members of the Soviet Republic's new parliament meet to discuss breaking away from the USSR.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 3

May 2: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.494 %
Standard deviation	0.743
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	3
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	9

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	164	8	116	180
Avg. % change	0.063%	1.018%	0.189%	-0.02%
Standard deviation % change	0.754	1.967	1.474	0.406
No. of times price has gone up	8	17	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	9	4	7	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
European stocks claw back earlier losses amid mining rally (AFP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)
European Stocks Dip After NY Loss (Reuters)
Mandelson calls for understanding from both EU, China (AFP)
Shares close flat as NY losses offsets Glaxo surge (AFP)
European Stocks Fall, Bonds Wobble (Reuters)
Dollar Rebounds Against Euro (Reuters)
EU Commission Proposes $146.2B 2006 Budget (AP)
Former ECB chief slams governments'efforts to influence rate policy (AFP)
Row over Chinese textile exports sews new European, American unity (AFP)

On this day
1969 British liner Queen Elizabeth II left on maiden voyage to New York.

BBC - On This Day
1997: Labour routs Tories in historic election
The Labour Party wins the general election by a landslide, leaving the Conservative Party in tatters after 18 years in power.
1982: British sub sinks Argentine cruiser
The General Belgrano is destroyed in a controversial move by the Royal Navy off the disputed Falklands Islands - a thousand men are believed to be on board
1952: Comet inaugurates the jet age
The world's first ever jet airliner - the De Havilland Comet 1 - sets off from London to Johannesburg on its maiden flight
2001: Sotheby's and Christies chiefs charged
A federal jury in the USA indicts the former chairmen of the world's two largest auction houses, Sotheby's and Christies, on charges of overcharging its customers.
1969: Crackdown on student protests in US
About 200 students calling for educational reforms at Columbia University give up their sit-in after a supreme court judge issues a warrant for their arrest.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 2

May 1: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.065 %
Standard deviation	0.787
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	8

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	315	344	329	194
Avg. % change	-0.227%	-0.634%	-0.347%	-0.028%
Standard deviation % change	1.173	2.66	2.287	0.749
No. of times price has gone up	10	9	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	7	10	7	3

Gold:since 1970, Silver : 1970, Platinum: 1976, Paladium: 1996

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Yahoo European Business
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus Link to Euro (AP)
European stocks claw back earlier losses amid mining rally (AFP)
German Gov't Cuts 2005 Growth Forecast (AP)
European Stocks Dip After NY Loss (Reuters)
Mandelson calls for understanding from both EU, China (AFP)
Shares close flat as NY losses offsets Glaxo surge (AFP)
European Stocks Fall, Bonds Wobble (Reuters)
Dollar Rebounds Against Euro (Reuters)
EU Commission Proposes $146.2B 2006 Budget (AP)
Former ECB chief slams governments'efforts to influence rate policy (AFP)
Row over Chinese textile exports sews new European, American unity (AFP)

On this day
1961 After 1 May 1961, when they became legal in the UK, betting shops opened at a rate of 100 a week.

BBC - On This Day
1945: Germany announces Hitler is dead
The German Fuhrer is killed in the Reich Chancery of Berlin fighting the Soviets, according to German radio.
1982: RAF bombs Port Stanley
British planes attack two airstrips near the capital of the Falkland Islands in the war to rid the islands of Argentine forces
1994: Race ace Senna killed in car crash
The world-class Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna dies in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy.
1973: Thousands strike over pay and prices
More than a million workers join a one-day strike in protest at the government's pay restraint policy and price rises.
1961: Victorious Castro bans elections
Fidel Castro declares Cuba a socialist nation saying, "The revolution has no time for elections."
2000: May Day violence on London streets
Hundreds of anti-capitalist demonstrators fight running battles with police - the Cenotaph and statue of Winston Churchill are defaced with graffiti

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for May 1