UK Market Comments‏

In the morning session the FTSE 100 is currently trading around the 4300
 level.

 Due to the US holiday tomorrow, we have some widely followed data released
 today. Eurozone unemployment figures out this morning were worse than
 expected at 9.5% - but this figure may be deceptive as employers choose to
 make workers 'idle' by reducing their working hours, or even allowing
 sabbaticals on reduced pay. Whilst these workers are not considered
 unemployed, they certainly are not working at full capacity, or
 productivity, which will have wider implications for the eurozone economic
 area. This is one of the reasons ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet is
 expected to announce at 12.30 GMT that interest-rates will remain on hold.

 Today also sees the release of US non-farm payrolls; the mood is that
 while
 the data will not show an improvement, it will at least indicate some
 stability, with the number of jobs lost less severe than the previous
 month.
 That said unemployment in the US now stands 9.6% - a 26-year high.
 Traders
 will be watching with anticipation to see how these releases affect the
 market. With the recent calm experienced of late today has the potential
 to
 be a bit choppier.