April 30: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.236 %
Standard deviation	0.572
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
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)	66	132	30	146
Avg. % change	0.26%	0.167%	0.443%	0.021%
Standard deviation % change	0.888	1.097	1.22	0.739
No. of times price has gone up	13	12	11	1
No. of times price has gone down	6	11	9	4

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
2001 Monthly statistics for US dot.com lay-offs peaked in April 2001 at 17,554.

BBC - On This Day
1975: Saigon surrenders
The war in Vietnam ends as the government in Saigon announces its unconditional surrender to the Vietcong.
1973: Nixon takes rap for Watergate scandal
President Richard Nixon takes responsibility for the Watergate scandal but denies any personal involvement.
1999: Dozens injured in Soho nail bomb
Two people are killed and at least 30 injured in the third nail-bomb attack in London in two weeks.
1993: Tennis star stabbed
The world number one women's tennis player, Monica Seles, is stabbed in the back during a quarter-final match in Hamburg.
1952: Anne Frank published in English
The British public gets the chance to read The Diary of a Young Girl, written by Anne Frank who hid from the Nazis in Holland during the war.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 30

April 29: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.137 %
Standard deviation	0.773
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)	181	271	360	118
Avg. % change	0.039%	-0.196%	-0.659%	0.063%
Standard deviation % change	0.565	2.339	1.291	1.157
No. of times price has gone up	11	10	4	3
No. of times price has gone down	8	12	16	1

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

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Yahoo European Business
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)
European stocks rise in early deals amid drinks sector takeover talk (AFP)
Dollar Rebounds Against Euro (Reuters)
EU Commission Proposes $146.2B 2006 Budget (AP)
Germany Plans to Curb Cheap Labor Inflow (AP)
Former ECB chief slams governments'efforts to influence rate policy (AFP)
Row over Chinese textile exports sews new European, American unity (AFP)
In the enlarged EU, winds of reform blow from the east (AFP)

On this day
1913 Gideon Sundback of Hoboken patented the all-purpose zipper.

BBC - On This Day
1992: LA in flames after 'not guilty' verdict
Fierce rioting breaks out in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four white police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King.
1993: Queen to open Palace doors
Buckingham Palace will open to the public for the first time in a bid to raise funds to repair Windsor Castle.
1978: Afghan coup rebels claim victory
The new left-wing rulers of Afghanistan say almost all the leaders of the ousted Daoud regime are dead.
1986: Simple funeral rites for Duchess
The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, is laid to rest alongside her husband, the abdicated King Edward VIII, at Frogmore in Windsor.
1958: My Fair Lady dazzles London
The Broadway musical, My Fair Lady, opens for its first night in London to a rapturous reception.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 29

April 28: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.361 %
Standard deviation	1.078
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)	349	356	342	322
Avg. % change	-0.404%	-0.82%	-0.455%	-0.345%
Standard deviation % change	1.124	2.768	2.661	1.866
No. of times price has gone up	7	6	7	1
No. of times price has gone down	12	16	13	4

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

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Yahoo European Business
Earnings, Cheaper Oil Lift Europe Stocks (Reuters)
Dollar Rebounds Against Euro (Reuters)
EU Commission Proposes $146.2B 2006 Budget (AP)
Germany Plans to Curb Cheap Labor Inflow (AP)
European stocks fail to take off in early deals (AFP)
Former ECB chief slams governments'efforts to influence rate policy (AFP)
Row over Chinese textile exports sews new European, American unity (AFP)
In the enlarged EU, winds of reform blow from the east (AFP)
FTSE 100 slides after disappointing results from Whitbread (AFP)
European bourses open flat (FT.com)
EU Approves Acquisition of Radianz (AP)

On this day
2004 Dixons announced it would close a third of its High Street stores following disappointing sales.

BBC - On This Day
1986: Soviets admit nuclear accident
The Soviet Union acknowledges there has been an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine.
1996: Gunman runs amok in Tasmania
At least 32 die when a man opens fire indiscriminately on a crowded tourist area of Tasmania, Australia.
1945: Italian partisans kill Mussolini
Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy until his downfall in 1943, has been killed by partisans along with his mistress, Clara Petacci, and some close associates.
1969: President Charles de Gaulle resigns
The French president, Charles de Gaulle, resigns from office after 11 years, following his defeat in a referendum on governmental reforms.
1994: CIA double agent jailed for life
Former CIA agent Aldrich Ames admits selling secrets to the Soviet Union and then Russia, in one of the most damaging spy cases in US history.
2001: First space tourist blasts off
A billionaire businessman from California becomes the first paying passenger to go to outer space.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 28

April 27: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.008 %
Standard deviation	1.104
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	5
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)	255	286	93	308
Avg. % change	-0.097%	-0.246%	0.233%	-0.29%
Standard deviation % change	0.732	1.766	1.377	0.703
No. of times price has gone up	9	9	9	0
No. of times price has gone down	9	10	11	4

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

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Yahoo European Business
European Shares Fall (Reuters)
Row over Chinese textile exports sews new European, American unity (AFP)
In the enlarged EU, winds of reform blow from the east (AFP)
FTSE 100 slides after disappointing results from Whitbread (AFP)
German Economists Slash Growth Forecast (AP)
European stocks drop in early deals (AFP)
European bourses open flat (FT.com)
EU Approves Acquisition of Radianz (AP)
France Constitution Rejection Worries EU (AP)
London shares close higher, rally in oils and Smiths jump offset NY dip (AFP)
British Economy Grows 0.6 Percent in 1Q (AP)

On this day
1999 Having floated at 130p in 1989, Abbey National shares increased over 10 times in value to reach an all-time high on this day of 1435p. Four years later, they were back below 400p.

BBC - On This Day
1945: Russians and Americans link at Elbe
Russian and American troops join hands at the River Elbe in Germany, bringing the end of the war a step closer.
1984: Libyan embassy siege ends
The siege of the Libyan Embassy in London ends 11 days after the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the St James's Square building.
1961: Sierra Leone wins independence
Sierra Leone becomes the latest West African state to win independence, after more than 150 years of British colonial rule.
1992: Betty Boothroyd is new Speaker
The House of Commons elects a woman to the post of Speaker for the first time in its 700-year history.
1971: Protest disrupts Welsh language trial
Police were forced to physically remove demonstrators from the entrance of a courtroom after they disrupted proceedings inside.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 27

April 26: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.284 %
Standard deviation	0.685
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)	279	85	243	233
Avg. % change	-0.137%	0.307%	-0.084%	-0.084%
Standard deviation % change	0.709	1.109	1.241	0.525
No. of times price has gone up	8	15	10	1
No. of times price has gone down	10	8	10	3

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

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Yahoo European Business
European Stocks Ease as Chipmakers Weigh (Reuters)
European bourses open flat (FT.com)
EU Approves Acquisition of Radianz (AP)
European stocks fall in quiet start to week (AFP)
German Business Confidence Index Declines (AP)
France Constitution Rejection Worries EU (AP)
London shares close higher, rally in oils and Smiths jump offset NY dip (AFP)
British Economy Grows 0.6 Percent in 1Q (AP)
British economic growth slows ahead of general election (AFP)
Iran Sees 'Genuine'EU Effort to Reach Nuke Deal (Reuters)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)

On this day
1929 The first non-stop England to India flight landed.

BBC - On This Day
1962: First US rocket lands on moon
The American moon rocket Ranger IV lands on the far side of the moon but fails to send back pictures due a technical fault.
1984: Reagan arrives in China
US President Ronald Reagan lands in China at the start of a six-day state visit, the first by an American president since 1972.
1993: Recession over - it's official
The government announces the recession is over after new figures show growth in the economy for the first time in over two years.
1975: Labour votes to leave the EEC
Party members vote by almost 2-1 to leave the EEC, underlining the deep divisions over the issue of Europe.
2000: Minister sees immigrants captured
The Home Secretary, Jack Straw, witnesses nine people being caught attempting to illegally enter the UK as he inspects immigration procedures in Dover.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 26

April 25: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0 %
Standard deviation	0.587
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)	76	137	196	170
Avg. % change	0.23%	0.15%	0.004%	-0.011%
Standard deviation % change	1.221	2.089	1.568	0.863
No. of times price has gone up	12	14	11	3
No. of times price has gone down	8	10	9	2

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

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Yahoo European Business
France Constitution Rejection Worries EU (AP)
London shares close higher, rally in oils and Smiths jump offset NY dip (AFP)
British Economy Grows 0.6 Percent in 1Q (AP)
British economic growth slows ahead of general election (AFP)
Iran Sees 'Genuine'EU Effort to Reach Nuke Deal (Reuters)
European stocks rise as Pernod-Allied drinks deal lifts trade (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)

On this day
2001 Motorola announced the closure of their plant in Bathgate in Scotland. The move cost over 3,00 jobs and the government was set to demand the return of £17m in grants that the company were given to persuade them to set up there.

BBC - On This Day
1980: Tehran hostage rescue mission fails
A top-secret attempt by the United States to free American hostages held in Iran collapses in failure, with the death of eight soldiers.
1982: Marines land in South Georgia
Britain re-establishes its presence in the Falkland Islands after a two-hour assault by Royal Marines on the remote island of South Georgia.
1983: 'Hitler diaries' published
The German magazine, Stern, publishes the first instalment of the controversial "Hitler Diaries", said to be written by the Führer himself.
2002: Brothers cleared of Damilola murder
Two teenage brothers are cleared of the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor.
1953: Scientists describe 'secret of life'
Two Cambridge University scientists make public their answer to one of the most fundamental questions of biology - how do living things reproduce themselves?

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 25

April 24: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.081 %
Standard deviation	0.813
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)	57	11	82	301
Avg. % change	0.288%	0.934%	0.27%	-0.244%
Standard deviation % change	1.01	3.183	1.297	0.838
No. of times price has gone up	11	11	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	8	10	8	3

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

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Yahoo European Business
France Constitution Rejection Worries EU (AP)
London shares close higher, rally in oils and Smiths jump offset NY dip (AFP)
British Economy Grows 0.6 Percent in 1Q (AP)
British economic growth slows ahead of general election (AFP)
EU targets retail financial services (FT.com)
Iran Sees 'Genuine'EU Effort to Reach Nuke Deal (Reuters)
European stocks rise as Pernod-Allied drinks deal lifts trade (AFP)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)

On this day
1975 UK government announced plans to invest £1,400m in car maker British Leyland.

BBC - On This Day
1993: IRA bomb devastates City of London
A massive bomb rips through the heart of the City of London, killing one and injuring more than 40.
1975: Baader-Meinhof blow up embassy
A tense stand-off at the West German embassy in Stockholm ends in violence.
1954: British crackdown on Kenya rebels
Security forces round up more than 10,000 men in the biggest anti-Mau Mau operation since the state of emergency was declared in Kenya 18 months ago.
1982: First Briton dies in Falklands campaign
A crewman of a Sea King helicopter on its way to the Falklands Islands is missing and presumed dead after the aircraft crashed.
1967: Russian cosmonaut dies in space crash
The Soviet Union announces the catastrophic failure of its latest space mission, with the crash of Soyuz 1 and the death of the cosmonaut on board.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 24

April 23: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.259 %
Standard deviation	0.839
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	10
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)	123	73	113	3
Avg. % change	0.145%	0.352%	0.193%	0.733%
Standard deviation % change	0.792	1.766	1.186	3.137
No. of times price has gone up	11	13	9	3
No. of times price has gone down	8	7	8	2

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

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Yahoo European Business
France Constitution Rejection Worries EU (AP)
London shares close higher, rally in oils and Smiths jump offset NY dip (AFP)
British Economy Grows 0.6 Percent in 1Q (AP)
British economic growth slows ahead of general election (AFP)
EU targets retail financial services (FT.com)
Iran Sees 'Genuine'EU Effort to Reach Nuke Deal (Reuters)
European stocks rise as Pernod-Allied drinks deal lifts trade (AFP)
FTSE 100 groups hinder reporting revolution (FT.com)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)

On this day
1983 Pound coins are issued for the first time.

BBC - On This Day
1979: Teacher dies in Southall race riots
A 33-year-old man dies from head injuries after a bloody battle breaks out between police and demonstrators in Southall.
1984: Scientist finds Aids virus
The discovery of a virus which may cause Aids, the fatal disease sweeping through America, is hailed as a "monumental breakthrough"in medical research.
2001: Royal aide on trial for murder
A former personal assistant to the Duchess of York stands accused of murdering her boyfriend.
1968: Decimal coins reach the high street
The first decimal coins make their way into purses throughout Britain in preparation for replacing the current system of pounds, shillings and pence by 1971.
1998: Martin Luther King killer dies
James Earl Ray, the convicted killer of black American civil rights leader Martin Luther King dies in prison

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 23

April 22: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.084 %
Standard deviation	0.785
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)	60	252	286	30
Avg. % change	0.28%	-0.157%	-0.173%	0.314%
Standard deviation % change	1.016	1.794	1.076	1.872
No. of times price has gone up	13	12	7	2
No. of times price has gone down	6	10	12	3

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

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Yahoo European Business
British economy grows by 0.6 percent in first quarter (AFP)
EU targets retail financial services (FT.com)
Iran Sees 'Genuine'EU Effort to Reach Nuke Deal (Reuters)
European stocks rise as Pernod-Allied drinks deal lifts trade (AFP)
FTSE 100 groups hinder reporting revolution (FT.com)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
French No vote 'could force rate rise (FT.com)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)

On this day
1864 US first minted the $2 coin (with the first appearance of ""In God We Trust"").

BBC - On This Day
2000: Swat team grabs tug-of-love Cuban boy
US federal agents seize six-year-old Elian Gonzalez in a early morning raid on his relatives' home.
1959: Dame Margot Fonteyn released from jail
The British ballerina arrives in New York after spending 24 hours in a Panamanian prison.
1997: Troops storm embassy in Peru
The four-month siege of the Japanese embassy in Peru ends in gunfire and explosions as troops storm in.
1971: Haitian dictator dies
Haiti's ruler, Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier, has died after 14 years in power.
1980: Deposed ministers executed in Liberia
Thirteen leading officials of the ousted government in Liberia have been publicly executed on the orders of the new military regime.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 22

April 21: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.046 %
Standard deviation	0.46
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)	171	133	184	21
Avg. % change	0.052%	0.163%	0.051%	0.374%
Standard deviation % change	0.443	2.26	1.88	0.99
No. of times price has gone up	9	8	8	3
No. of times price has gone down	7	13	10	0

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

---

Yahoo European Business
FTSE 100 groups hinder reporting revolution (FT.com)
London shares close lower as financials slide and ex-div factors weigh (AFP)
French No vote 'could force rate rise (FT.com)
European stocks rebound after Wall Street steadies (AFP)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
Bourses expected to stem losses at open (FT.com)
Spectre of heavy lawsuit losses hangs over Bucharest (FT.com)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)
French 'non'to EU constitution could knock investor confidence (AFP)

On this day
1952 BOAC began its first passenger service with jets (London-Rome route).

BBC - On This Day
1945: Red Army enters outskirts of Berlin
Russian troops capture some outlying suburbs of Berlin at the beginning of what promises to be a bitter battle for control of the city.
1987: Tamil Tigers blamed for bus garage blast
More than 100 people have been killed after a bomb exploded in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.
1975: Vietnam's President Thieu resigns
The President of South Vietnam steps down accusing the United States of betrayal in a blistering attack broadcast to the nation
1994: 'Guildford Four' man cleared of IRA murder
One of the Guildford Four, Paul Hill, has won his appeal against a conviction for an IRA murder in Northern Ireland.
1955: Fleet Street papers back after strike
National newspapers are published for the first time in nearly a month following the end of the maintenance workers' strike.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 21

April 20: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.203 %
Standard deviation	1.053
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	4
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)	336	289	287	138
Avg. % change	-0.323%	-0.254%	-0.179%	0.032%
Standard deviation % change	0.904	1.658	1.22	1.873
No. of times price has gone up	4	8	5	2
No. of times price has gone down	12	8	11	2

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

---

Yahoo European Business
French No vote 'could force rate rise (FT.com)
European stocks rebound after Wall Street steadies (AFP)
German Economic Sentiment Drops Sharply (AP)
Bourses expected to stem losses at open (FT.com)
Spectre of heavy lawsuit losses hangs over Bucharest (FT.com)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)
French 'non'to EU constitution could knock investor confidence (AFP)
Sterling stays strong versus listing euro (AFP)
London shares end session in the red, hit by NY falls and slide in miners (AFP)

BBC - On This Day
1999: Students 'kill dozens' at Denver school
A shooting spree by two American high school students is feared to have left up to 25 people dead.
1968: Powell slates immigration policy
The Conservative right-winger, Enoch Powell, has made a hard-hitting speech attacking the government's immigration policy.
1974: 'Troubles' death toll hits 1,000
The conflict in Northern Ireland has claimed its 1,000th victim, a petrol station owner from County Fermanagh.
1953: UN and Korea begin prisoner exchange
The US and Korea swap sick and wounded prisoners of war at Panmunjon.
1972: Apollo 16 safely on Moon after engine crisis
The Apollo 16 manned mission to the Moon lands after a seven-hour crisis which nearly aborts the mission.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 20

April 19: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.175 %
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

---

Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	250	122	297	295
Avg. % change	-0.09%	0.214%	-0.226%	-0.223%
Standard deviation % change	1.036	1.571	1.322	2.128
No. of times price has gone up	8	12	9	2
No. of times price has gone down	11	10	8	2

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

---

Yahoo European Business
Bourses expected to stem losses at open (FT.com)
Spectre of heavy lawsuit losses hangs over Bucharest (FT.com)
European stocks dragged down by Wall Street, Asia malaise (AFP)
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)
French 'non'to EU constitution could knock investor confidence (AFP)
Sterling stays strong versus listing euro (AFP)
London shares end session in the red, hit by NY falls and slide in miners (AFP)
Dutch Bank's Bid for Antonveneta Approved (AP)
Chirac Urges French to OK Constitution (AP)

On this day
1839 Treaty of London constituted Belgium an independent kingdom.

BBC - On This Day
1995: Many feared dead in Oklahoma bombing
President Clinton condemns the "evil cowards"behind a huge car bomb which has killed at least 80 people.
1993: Waco cult siege ends with inferno
At least 70 people are feared to have died in a fire at the besieged headquarters of the Branch Davidian sect near Waco, Texas.
1972: 'Bloody Sunday' report excuses Army
The British army is largely cleared of blame for Bloody Sunday which ended in the deaths of 14 civilians in Northern Ireland.
1956: Prince Rainier marries Grace Kelly
Prince Rainier III of Monaco marries film actress Grace Kelly.
2001: Drugs firms withdraw from Aids case
The world's biggest pharmaceutical companies have backed out of a landmark court battle over cheap anti-Aids drugs.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 19

April 18: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.259 %
Standard deviation	0.816
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	6
No. of times FTSE has gone up today since 1984	8

---

Metals data for today

	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Paladium
Day ranking (out of 365)	91	175	83	9
Avg. % change	0.195%	0.046%	0.266%	0.553%
Standard deviation % change	0.874	2.292	1.153	2.232
No. of times price has gone up	11	13	13	4
No. of times price has gone down	8	10	6	0

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

---

Yahoo European Business
European Shares at 2-1/2 Month Lows (Reuters)
EU Ban Bites Into S. Africa Ostrich Trade (AP)
Pro-EU Premier Wins Turkish Cypriot Vote (AP)
French 'non'to EU constitution could knock investor confidence (AFP)
European stocks tumble on Wall Street slump, tech troubles (AFP)
Sterling stays strong versus listing euro (AFP)
London shares end session in the red, hit by NY falls and slide in miners (AFP)
Dutch Bank's Bid for Antonveneta Approved (AP)
Chirac Urges French to OK Constitution (AP)
Romania, Bulgaria Must Reform to Join EU (AP)
EU ministers call for currency appreciation in Asia (AFP)

On this day
2000 HSBC and Merrill Lynch announced they are putting $1bn into creating a new global online bank and broker, called Merrill Lynch HSBC. (The joint venture lasted less than two years).
2000 After a long period of negotiation BP Amoco eventually won clearance from authorities in the US and merged with Atlantic Richfield Co (Arco).

BBC - On This Day
1955: Albert Einstein dies
Eminent scientist Dr Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity, dies in hospital aged 76.
1988: 'Ivan the Terrible' guilty of war crimes
A retired US car worker has been found guilty of Nazi war crimes.
1994: Killing spreads in Rwanda
The ethnic violence in Rwandan capital Kigali is spreading throughout the country, aid officials say.
1996: Greek tourists killed by Egyptian gunmen
Seventeen Greek tourists and an Egyptian tour guide have been killed by gunmen in Cairo.
1978: Carter wins Panama Canal battle
The US Senate has narrowly backed President Carter's controversial Panama Canal treaty.
1960: Thousands protest against H-bomb
At least 60,000 demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square to mark the end of the Aldermaston to London "ban the bomb"march

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 18

April 16: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.151 %
Standard deviation	1.014
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)	219	263	250	330
Avg. % change	-0.034%	-0.17%	-0.098%	-0.444%
Standard deviation % change	1.804	1.472	2.354	1.28
No. of times price has gone up	8	7	3	1
No. of times price has gone down	8	11	10	4

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

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Yahoo European Business
European stocks tumble on Wall Street slump, tech troubles (AFP)
Techs Lead European Stocks'Retreat (Reuters)
Sterling stays strong versus listing euro (AFP)
London shares end session in the red, hit by NY falls and slide in miners (AFP)
Dutch Bank's Bid for Antonveneta Approved (AP)
Chirac Urges French to OK Constitution (AP)
Romania, Bulgaria Must Reform to Join EU (AP)
EU ministers call for currency appreciation in Asia (AFP)
EU calls for orderly appreciation of Asian currencies (AFP)
EU fails to agree on dividing money from Philip Morris settlement (AFP)
EU ministers huddle for talks on weak growth (AFP)

On this day
2001 The Labour government overtook Unilever and Proctor and Gamble to become the biggest advertiser in the country according to figures from the Media Monitoring Service AC Nielsen MMS.

BBC - On This Day
1964: 'Great Train Robbers' get 300 years
Some of the longest sentences in British criminal history have been imposed on men involved in the so-called "Great Train Robbery".
1993: UN makes Srebrenica 'safe haven'
The United Nations Security Council votes to create a safe haven for Bosnian Muslims under siege in the town of Srebrenica.
1970: Paisley victory rattles NI parliament
Protestant right-winger Ian Paisley has won a seat in Northern Ireland's parliament.
1987: MP on gay sex charges
Conservative MP Harvey Proctor has appeared in court charged with indecency.
1953: Queen launches Royal Yacht Britannia
Thousands welcome the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they arrived in Scotland to launch the new royal yacht, Britannia.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 16

April 15: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.423 %
Standard deviation	0.871
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)	354	251	348	38
Avg. % change	-0.428%	-0.155%	-0.49%	0.278%
Standard deviation % change	1.197	2.246	2.076	1.82
No. of times price has gone up	5	11	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	15	11	10	3

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

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Yahoo European Business
Sterling stays strong versus listing euro (AFP)
London shares end session in the red, hit by NY falls and slide in miners (AFP)
European stocks fall after Wall Street slump (AFP)
Dutch Bank's Bid for Antonveneta Approved (AP)
Chirac Urges French to OK Constitution (AP)
Oils Lead European Stocks Down (Reuters)
Romania, Bulgaria Must Reform to Join EU (AP)
EU ministers call for currency appreciation in Asia (AFP)
EU calls for orderly appreciation of Asian currencies (AFP)
EU fails to agree on dividing money from Philip Morris settlement (AFP)
EU ministers huddle for talks on weak growth (AFP)

On this day
2004 Diageo announced it would close its Park Royal brewery and transfer Guinness production to Ireland. (The five biggest markets for Guinness worldwide then were: UK, Ireland, Nigeria, US, and Cameroon).

BBC - On This Day
1945: British troops liberate Bergen-Belsen
British troops enter the concentration camp after negotiating a truce with the German commandant.
1986: US launches air strikes on Libya
The United States bombs Tripoli in retaliation for Libyan terrorist attacks on American targets.
1989: Soccer fans crushed at Hillsborough
At least 93 football supporters have been killed in Britain's worst-ever sporting disaster.
1942: Malta gets George Cross for bravery
The people of Malta are awarded the George Cross in recognition of their heroic struggle against enemy occupation.
1998: Former Cambodian dictator dies
The former Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, whose regime led to the deaths of millions of his people, has died.
2000: White farmer shot dead in Zimbabwe
A white farmer in Zimbabwe has been kidnapped and shot dead by squatters occupying his land.
1953: Britain honours American hero
Reis Leming, a 22-year-old US airman, is awarded the George Medal for rescuing people trapped by winter floods.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 15

April 14: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.349 %
Standard deviation	0.974
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	10
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)	89	134	12	266
Avg. % change	0.198%	0.162%	0.565%	-0.145%
Standard deviation % change	0.901	1.497	1.252	1.406
No. of times price has gone up	9	9	10	2
No. of times price has gone down	10	12	6	2

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

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Yahoo European Business
London shares end higher (AFP)
European stocks rise after Wall Street rebound (AFP)
Romania, Bulgaria Must Reform to Join EU (AP)
EU ministers call for currency appreciation in Asia (AFP)
EU calls for orderly appreciation of Asian currencies (AFP)
EU fails to agree on dividing money from Philip Morris settlement (AFP)
EU ministers huddle for talks onweak growth (AFP)
EU, South Korea Face Off at WTO Meeting (AP)
Britain: If The Economy Ain't Broke... (BusinessWeek Online)
Germany: EU Wants Closer Ties With Russia (AP)
PM Blair banking on strong British economy to hand Labour re-election (AFP)

On this day
1994 The top executives of the 7 largest American tobacco companies testified in Congress that they did not believe cigarettes were addictive.
2000 Nasdaq plunged 355.5 points (10%), signalling the end of the tech boom.

BBC - On This Day
1970: Critical explosion cripples Apollo 13
An explosion on board Apollo 13 causes one of the most critical situations in American space history.
1988: USSR pledges to leave Afghanistan
The Soviet Union signs an agreement paving the way for pulling Russian troops out of Afghanistan.
2000: M25 killer gets life
A man who carried out a "road rage"killing is beginning a life sentence after being convicted of murder at the Old Bailey in London.
1979: New president for war-torn Uganda
A man driven into exile by former Uganda dictator Idi Amin has been sworn in as the country's new president.
1968: Berlin student unrest worsens
A massive student rally in West Berlin has ended in violent clashes between police and protesters.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 14

April 13: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.184 %
Standard deviation	0.592
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	4
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)	193	291	228	139
Avg. % change	0.009%	-0.258%	-0.051%	0.031%
Standard deviation % change	1.096	1.358	1.368	0.234
No. of times price has gone up	8	5	9	1
No. of times price has gone down	7	13	7	1

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

---

Yahoo European Business
EU ministers call for currency appreciation in Asia (AFP)
European stocks fall amid British retail news (AFP)
EU calls for orderly appreciation of Asian currencies (AFP)
EU fails to agree on dividing money from Philip Morris settlement (AFP)
Eurozone calls for exchange rate flexibility from Asia (AFP)
EU, South Korea Face Off at WTO Meeting (AP)
Britain: If The Economy Ain'tBroke... (BusinessWeek Online)
Germany: EU Wants Closer Ties With Russia (AP)
PM Blair banking on strong British economy to hand Labour re-election (AFP)
EU stability pact reform won't help new members get euro quicker: Trichet (AFP)
London shares end week on high note as Boots bid talk lifts sentiment (AFP)

BBC - On This Day
1992: Labour's Neil Kinnock resigns
Neil Kinnock resigns as Labour Party leader blaming the Conservative-backed press for his party's defeat at the general election.
1989: Six killed in West Bank village raid
At least six Palestinians have been killed in an early morning raid by Israeli soldiers on an Arab village on the West Bank.
1975: 'Cambridge rapist' strikes again
Police believe a woman attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning was the sixth victim of a serial rapist operating in Cambridge.
1964: Poitier breaks new ground with Oscar win
Sidney Poitier has become the first black person to win the best actor Oscar.
1997: Tiger Woods wins Masters at 21
Golfing sensation Tiger Woods wins the US Masters, the youngest player ever to do so.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 13

April 12: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.208 %
Standard deviation	0.576
No. of times the FTSE has gone down today since 1984	5
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)	228	190	138	129
Avg. % change	-0.05%	0.004%	0.138%	0.047%
Standard deviation % change	0.582	1.226	0.767	0.445
No. of times price has gone up	8	11	12	3
No. of times price has gone down	10	9	6	1

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

---

Yahoo European Business
EU calls for orderly appreciation of Asian currencies (AFP)
EU fails to agree on dividing money from Philip Morris settlement (AFP)
Eurozone calls for exchange rate flexibility from Asia (AFP)
EU, South Korea Face Off at WTO Meeting (AP)
Britain: If The Economy Ain't Broke... (BusinessWeek Online)
European stocks fall in early deals (AFP)
Germany: EU Wants Closer Ties With Russia (AP)
PM Blair banking on strong British economy to hand Labour re-election (AFP)
EU stability pact reform won't help new members get euro quicker: Trichet (AFP)
London shares end week on high note as Boots bid talk lifts sentiment (AFP)
Outlooks for U.S., Euro Zone Worsen: OECD (Reuters)

On this day
1922 Coco Chanel introduces her new perfume, No. 5., created by a chemist on the Riviera.
1996 Yahoo shares nearly tripled in price on first day of trading.

BBC - On This Day
1961: Soviets win space race
The Soviet Union beats the USA in the race to get the first man into space and Yuri Gagarin becomes a national hero.
1975: US pulls out of Cambodia
The US has admitted defeat in Cambodia and removed its remaining embassy personnel from the capital, Phnom Penh.
1997: Bosnian bomb plot fails to stop Pope
Police in Sarajevo discover mines under a bridge just hours before the arrival of the Pope.
1984: Scargill vetoes national ballot on strike
Arthur Scargill, leader of the miners' union the NUM, will not allow a national ballot to take place on whether to stop the strike.
2000: Queen honours NI police
The Queen presents the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) with the George Cross, the highest civilian award for bravery.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 12

April 11: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	-0.167 %
Standard deviation	0.98
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)	131	157	3	238
Avg. % change	0.131%	0.1%	0.718%	-0.099%
Standard deviation % change	0.632	1.14	1.211	0.605
No. of times price has gone up	11	15	13	1
No. of times price has gone down	7	8	5	4

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

---

Yahoo European Business
Germany: EU Wants Closer Ties With Russia (AP)
PM Blair banking on strong British economy to hand Labour re-election (AFP)
EU stability pact reform won't help new members get euro quicker: Trichet (AFP)
London shares end week on high note as Boots bid talk lifts sentiment (AFP)
European stocks rise in early deals (AFP)
Outlooks for U.S., Euro Zone Worsen: OECD (Reuters)
EU sues Italy over subsidy law; orders Rome to stop covering shipbuilding loans (Canadian Press)
Crude Futures Fall After EU Cuts Forecast (AP)
Pound loses ground versus dollar (AFP)
EU head office revises 2005 growth forecast lower to 1.6 per cent (Canadian Press)
French economy grew 2.4 per cent in 2004, now risks slowdown (Canadian Press)

On this day
1783 US Congress declared end of war with Great Britain.

BBC - On This Day
1961: Nazi war crimes trial begins
The trial has begun in Israel of the man accused of helping Hitler in his plan to exterminate the Jews.
1951: MacArthur fired - Ridgway takes over
US President Truman appoints General Ridgway as supreme commander of the UN forces in Korea after shocking the American public by dismissing General Macarthur.
1981: Brixton ablaze after race riot
The arrest of a black man leads to hundreds of youths rampaging through the streets of Brixton in south London.
1990: Customs seize 'supergun'
Customs officers in Middlesbrough say they have seized what they believe to be the barrel of a massive gun on a ship bound for Iraq.
1957: Britain agrees to Singapore self-rule
The island of Singapore is granted self-government from Britain to come into effect next year.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 11

April 10: FTSE100 Performance Analysis For This Day

Average percentage change for this day	0.482 %
Standard deviation	1.734
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)	307	362	320	252
Avg. % change	-0.216%	-1.035%	-0.31%	-0.117%
Standard deviation % change	1.284	3.579	1.598	0.741
No. of times price has gone up	6	9	6	2
No. of times price has gone down	12	14	13	2

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

---

Yahoo European Business
EU stability pact reform won't help new members get euro quicker: Trichet (AFP)
London shares end week on high note as Boots bid talk lifts sentiment (AFP)
European stocks rise in early deals (AFP)
Outlooks for U.S., Euro Zone Worsen: OECD (Reuters)
EU sues Italy over subsidy law; orders Rome to stop covering shipbuilding loans (Canadian Press)
Crude Futures Fall After EU Cuts Forecast (AP)
Pound loses ground versus dollar (AFP)
EU head office revises 2005 growth forecast lower to 1.6 per cent (Canadian Press)
French economy grew 2.4 per cent in 2004, now risks slowdown (Canadian Press)
Share Prices Fall on London Exchange (AP)
German unemployed put Schroeder in stranglehold (AFP)

On this day
2001 Tesco became the first UK supermarket to earn profits in excess of £1bn.

BBC - On This Day
1998: Northern Ireland peace deal reached
The Northern Ireland peace talks have ended with an historic agreement called the Good Friday Agreement.
1972: Earthquake kills thousands in Iran
At least 4,000 people die in a massive earthquake in southern Iran which flattens entire towns and villages.
1968: Dozens die in NZ ferry disaster
Fifty-one people die when a ferry capsizes in Wellington harbour, New Zealand, during one of the worst storms ever to hit the country.
1981: Hunger striker elected MP
Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands has been elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
2000: Damages for sacked HIV manager
A shop manager who was sacked for being HIV positive is to receive thousands of pounds in compensation.

Wikipedia On This Day
Wikipedia entry for April 10