** US & ASIAN WRAP **

** US MARKETS **
Dow 0,02%; Nasdaq 0,75%; S&P -0,17%; Soxx -2,49%; Russel2k -0,61%; DJAIG 1,71%;
10yr Bond -0,01%; 10yr Yield 5,13%; Crude future 72,43; Gold 711,19

| Utilities 0,58%| Energy 0,51%| ConsDisc 0,07%| Financials 0,03%| Industrials
-0,06%| Healthcare -0,11%| Materials -0,14%| ConsStaples -0,37%| Telecom -0,73%|
Technology -1,12%

** US HEADLINES **
- Bernanke, Facing `Credibility Test,’ Hangs June Rate Move on Economic Data
- Merrill Lynch Plans to Buy Mortgage Lender, Boost Trading, Fakahany Says
- Treasury Stance on China Currency Rankles Protectionists in U.S. Congress
- ExchangeTraded Funds Inflate Commodities Prices, Lift Gold, Silver Demand
- Dollar Gains Most Against Yen in Six Weeks; Fed May Keep Increasing Rates
- Crude Oil Rises After U.S. Gasoline Consumption Jumps to Highest This Year

** US AFTER HOURS **

- AIG (-3.5% after hours) reported Q1 earnings of $1.21 per share, $0.15 worse
than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $1.36. Total revenues rose 0.2%
year/year to $27.26 bln vs. the $0 bln consensus.

** IN PLAY TODAY **

At 14:30 CET April Retail Sales, March Business Inventories and Initial Claims
will hit the wires. On the earnings front, the only noteworthy companies
scheduled to report before the bell are EchoStar (DISH), JC Penney (JCP) and
Urban Outfitters (URBN). After the close, Analog Devices (ADI), Expedia (EXPE),
Kohl’s (KSS), NVIDIA (NVDA) and Pep Boys (PBY) are among the most notable names
out with quarterly results.

** ASIAN MARKETS **
Nikkei 0,58%; Kospi 0,28%; HSI 0,57%; Taiwan 0,5%; China 2,2%; India -0,99%;
Thailand -0,04%; Australia 0,24%

** ASIAN HEADLINES **
- Asian Stocks Fall on U.S. Interest Rate Concern; Sony, Hyundai Motor Drop
- Korea Electric’s FirstQuarter Profit Falls 34 Percent, Missing Estimates
- Reliance Petroleum Shares Soar on First Day of Trading on Profit Outlook
- Credit Suisse Aims to Hire 900 in Singapore Expansion, People Familiar Say
- Thai Airways Reports Most Profitable Quarter in Six Years on Baht, Levies
- China May Draw $6 Billion in Private Equity in 2006, Research Group Says
- BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto Profit Estimates Raised by Record at Goldman Sachs
- South Korean Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Steady as Currency Strengthens
- Indonesian Real Estate Shares Lead Rally, Catching Up as Region Recovers