MNI Global Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - As is normal for the first day of a new month, the

manufacturing PMIs are released Friday. The PMI for the Euro Area is at 0900GMT.

January UK money and credit data from the Bank of England is at 0930GMT and the

final data release of importance on the final day of the week is from the US

with the ISM Manufacturing Index at 1500GMT.

     The final February manufacturing PMI reading in the Euro Area is seen at

49.2 by the latest MNI median survey.

     On the UK money and credit side, mortgage approvals are anticipated to drop

to 63,400 after ending the year at 63,800. Net consumer credit is expected to

tick up a tough from a very weak reading of stg0.7 bn to stg0.8bn.

     The ISM manufacturing index is expected to fall to 55.5 in February from

56.6 in January. This comes after sharp movements in the previous two months.

Regional conditions data however have suggested a mixed picture.

     No speeches are scheduled across UK and Europe means the first speech on

Friday is across the Atlantic at 1545GMT, when New York Federal Reserve Bank

Vice President Kevin Stiroh speaking at Columbia university in New York.

     The only other speech of the day is at 1815GMT, when Atlanta Federal

Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic speaking in Washington, DC.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com