December 10: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.303 %
Standard deviation	0.745
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	12
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	3

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Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	299	238	199	42
Avg. % change	-0.188%	-0.126%	0%	0.268%
Standard deviation % change	1.18	2.36	0.769	1.106
No. of times price has gone up	9	10	7	4
No. of times price has gone down	10	13	10	3

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

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Yahoo European Business
European stocks wilt on interest rate concerns, corporate news (AFP)
Oils drag FTSE lower (FT.com)
The FTSE feels the impact of pension fund selling (FT.com)
Germany's Trade Surplus Falls in October (AP)
London shares turn higher at close (AFP)
Northern Rock foundation for FTSE rally (FT.com)
EU fails to agree on reduced VAT rates amid German resistance (AFP)
Britain sets out proposals to break EU budget impasse (AFP)
British finance minister slashes optimistic economic growth targets (AFP)
Dutch Zalm casts doubt on EU budget deal (Reuters)
EU and US must slash subsidies - Goodale (Reuters)

On this day
1948 UN General Assembly adopted Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

BBC - On This Day
1988: Death toll rises in Armenian earthquake
Up to 45,000 people die and a further 500,000 are homeless after the devastating earthquake which ripped through Armenia, official figures reveal today.
1990: Iraq frees British hostages
The first of the hostages held in the Gulf for four and a half months have arrived in Britain after their release by Saddam Hussein.
2003: Mother cleared of murdering babies
The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of Angela Cannings, jailed for life for the murder of her two baby sons.
1981: Mystery disease kills homosexuals
Mystery disease is causing increasing concern among medical practitioners in the United States.
1961: Apartheid attacked at Nobel ceremony
Alfred Luthuli, leader of the banned African National Congress, attacks South Africa's regime as he receives the Nobel peace prize.
1979: Daredevil Kidd's 80ft river jump
Stuntman Eddie Kidd has accomplished a "death-defying"motorcycle leap.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for December 10

December 9: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.054 %
Standard deviation	0.936
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	7
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)	364	358	362	19
Avg. % change	-0.59%	-0.858%	-0.681%	0.405%
Standard deviation % change	0.879	1.561	1.289	1.173
No. of times price has gone up	3	10	8	4
No. of times price has gone down	16	13	10	2

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

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Yahoo European Business
London shares turn higher at close (AFP)
European stocks fall, mirroring US, Asian losses (AFP)
German Industrial Production Rises in Oct. (AP)
Northern Rock foundation for FTSE rally (FT.com)
EU fails to agree on reduced VAT rates amid German resistance (AFP)
Ericsson helps Europe hit fresh 3½ year high (FT.com)
Britain sets out proposals to break EU budget impasse (AFP)
British finance minister slashes optimistic economic growth targets (AFP)
Dutch Zalm casts doubt on EU budget deal (Reuters)
EU and US must slash subsidies - Goodale (Reuters)
Germany wants to cut EU budget contributions (AFP)

On this day
1998 UK-based Zeneca and Astra from Sweden announced they would merge to form the fourth largest drug company in the world, with $14bn in sales. The new company to be called AstraZeneca.

BBC - On This Day
1973: Sunningdale Agreement signed
Tripartite talks on Northern Ireland end in an historic agreement to set up a Council of Ireland.
1993: Astronauts put Hubble back in action
A record-beraking mission to repair the faulty Hubble telescope in outer space is declared an unqualified success.
1996: Guilty verdict on school machete attacker
A man who attacked three children and four women with a machete is found guilty of attempted murder.
1992: American marines land in Somalia
American forces land in Somalia to begin humanitarian operation in famine-stricken country.
1987: Gatting row halts play in Pakistan
The England cricket tour hangs in the balance as a row erupts between England captain Mike Gatting and the umpire Shakoor Rana.
1957: Post Office issues Christmas warning
The Post Master General kicks off a campaign urging the public to send their Christmas cards in good time.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for December 9

December 8: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.42 %
Standard deviation	0.694
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	4
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)	30	57	27	65
Avg. % change	0.401%	0.412%	0.456%	0.189%
Standard deviation % change	0.899	1.639	1.048	0.967
No. of times price has gone up	14	15	13	2
No. of times price has gone down	6	8	6	2

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

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Yahoo European Business
Northern Rock foundation for FTSE rally (FT.com)
European stocks mixed in early deals (AFP)
EU fails to agree on reduced VAT rates amid German resistance (AFP)
Ericsson helps Europe hit fresh 3½ year high (FT.com)
FTSE flat as weaker oils offset stronger HBOS (FT.com)
Britain sets out proposals to break EU budget impasse (AFP)
British finance minister slashes optimistic economic growth targets (AFP)
Dutch Zalm casts doubt on EU budget deal (Reuters)
EU and US must slash subsidies - Goodale (Reuters)
Germany wants to cut EU budget contributions (AFP)
Annan, EU reject U.S. proposals on new U.N. budget (Reuters)

On this day
1941 US declared war on Japan.

BBC - On This Day
1980: John Lennon shot dead
Former Beatle John Lennon is shot dead by an unknown gunman who opened fire outside the musician's New York apartment.
1965: New UK race law 'not tough enough'
The new Race Relations Act comes into force today making racial discrimination unlawful in public places.
1987: Superpowers to reverse arms race
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev sign an historic agreement to reduce the size of their nuclear arsenals.
2003: Greek terrorists convicted
The trial of 19 members of a left-wing group that killed British Brigadier Stephen Saunders three years ago comes to an end.
1995: Youth gang stabs head teacher to death
A head teacher dies after being stabbed outside his west London school.
1983: Television cameras allowed into Lords
Cameras will be allowed into the House of Lords after its members vote in favour of allowing live broadcasts from its chamber.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for December 8

December 7: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.164 %
Standard deviation	0.708
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	8
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)	165	167	105	27
Avg. % change	0.062%	0.072%	0.206%	0.336%
Standard deviation % change	0.922	2.003	1.052	1.313
No. of times price has gone up	11	11	11	4
No. of times price has gone down	9	12	8	0

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

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Yahoo European Business
EU fails to agree on reduced VAT rates amid German resistance (AFP)
Ericsson helps Europe hit fresh 3½ year high (FT.com)
European stocks rise amid banking sector news (AFP)
FTSE flat as weaker oils offset stronger HBOS (FT.com)
Britain sets out proposals to break EU budget impasse (AFP)
British finance minister slashes optimistic economic growth targets (AFP)
Dutch Zalm casts doubt on EU budget deal (Reuters)
EU and US must slash subsidies - Goodale (Reuters)
Germany wants to cut EU budget contributions (AFP)
Annan, EU reject U.S. proposals on new U.N. budget (Reuters)
British finance minister unveils plan to reform EU farm subsidies (AFP)

On this day
1998 On a live satellite link-up Bill Gates told a press conference that the DoJ trial (the antitrust trial against Microsoft) could undermine the future of the entire high-tech industry.

BBC - On This Day
1941: Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor
Japan launches a surprise attack on American bases in the Pacific and declares it is at war with Britain and the United States.
2001: Taleban surrender Kandahar
The Taleban regime gives up its last Afghan stronghold of Kandahar after weeks of bombardment by US warplanes.
1979: Lord Soames to govern Rhodesia
Lord Soames is named transitional governor of Rhodesia to oversee its progress into legal independence.
1955: Attlee steps down as Labour leader
Mr Attlee resigns as leader of the Labour Party and is made an Earl hours later by the Queen.
1993: Activists lose battle over chestnut tree
Protesters lose a 20-year fight to save a 250-year-old chestnut tree in east London, making way for a motorway extension.
1983: Tomcat halts steeplejack
A cat has climbed to a height of 160ft up an industrial chimney holding up the work of chief chimney-toppler Fred Dibnah.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for December 7