Friday Papers: tips and comment

FT Lex Column:

* BNP Paribas -- the eurozone's second largest bank has avoided the toxic asset headaches that afflicted many European universal bank peers

* Accounting for loans -- problem: lumpy bank writedowns. Quick solution: change the accounting rules. New problem: a Pandora's Box of reportage

* Fiat/Chrysler -- Sergio Marchionne, now boss of both Fiat and Chrysler, has announced ambitious plans for a turnround

* Bank of England printer jam -- the bank's hyperactivity reflects the fact that it controls the only lever still available to policymakers

* Lenovo -- Liu Chuanzhi has talked a good turnround, but after three quarters of losses there is at least some substance to his story

* Transurban -- public equity markets no longer see the point of listed infrastructure companies, which multiplied in the years leading up to the crunch.

Lombard (p.18):

* Cable and Wireless will have to telegraph its demerger details -- Man Group spirits are abroad

Small Talk (p.20):

* Small groups face big issues, but politics fails to react

Other comment:

* Rentokil climbs on expectations of earnings upgrades (p.36)

* IQE seen as a smart play (p.36)

THE TIMES

Tempus

* Buy Invensys -- Hold Segro -- Catlin a buy for the brave

Business Editor:

* This is no time for half-measures by the MPC -- Cable & Wireless message is getting lost -- Private equity must face facts

Other comment:

* Business Big Shot: Geoff Quinn, chief executive of TM Lewin

* Adventist a tiddler to watch

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Questor:

* Buy Unilever -- Hold Vedanta Resources

Comment:

* The one thing worse than quantitative easing would be no QE at all

Other comment:

* William Hill to launch £250 million high yield bond

THE INDEPENDENT

Investment Column:

* Buy Unilever and BTG -- Take profits in Millennium & Copthorne

Outlook:

* Britain's car dealers on the scrapheap -- No happy new year on the high street

THE GUARDIAN

Viewpoint:

* Are we near the end of the rally in everything? -- Cable & Wireless: cynical thoughts -- ITV switched on

Other comment:

* Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design, according to secret report

* Interview Armann Thorvaldsson, once head of Kaupthing Bank

DAILY EXPRESS

* Carillion in efficiency drive hope

* Vague bid speculation lifts Phytopharm

INVESTORS CHRONICLE

Hot Oil Shares:

* Tullow -- Gulf Keystone -- Desire Petroleum -- Rockhopper Exploration -- BP -- Cairn Energy

Tips of the week:

* Buy Brit Insurance at 210p -- Group NBT at 309p -- Asia Citrus at 37.75p -- Terrace Hill at 17p

* Sell Michael Page at 323p -- Marshalls at 95.25p

Updates:

* Buy KSK Power Venture -- Bglobal

* Sell Tanfield

* Vantis fairly priced.