Last week saw a slight dip in the FTSE mid week before rising to close the week at 6,163 points (having opened at 6,122). The AIM All share ended the week where it started at 735 points. UK Retail Sales figures were announced on Friday, which fell at a seasonally adjusted 0.1 per cent in December from the month before, whilst US Retail Sales on the other hand in December were up 0.5 per cent, and compared with the prior year were 4.7 per cent up. UK and Eurozone inflation figures both came in at 2.7 per cent. This week has seen President Obama inaugurated for a second term, where he outlined his economic plans, including tackling problems such as the fast growing net-debt (as a result of retirees), crumbling infrastructure and need for education/training. Back in the Eurozone, the difficulties continue, where France for example has seen continuing unemployment problems (with a rate of 10.3 per cent having risen for 19 consecutive months to approach a 15-year high), and which doesn’t look to be helped by an agreement to allow companies to cut work time and pay as demand slows, and extending benefits and raising a tax on employers. The week ahead sees UK December unemployment figures, IMF World Economic Outlook update and UK GDP Q4 first estimate being announced, and the World Economic Forum in Davos also commences. 

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Abcam (LON:ABC 363p/£720.90m) Abcam, a global leader in the supply of protein research tools, this morning announced a trading update ahead of its results for the six months ended 31 December 2012. The business has performed well despite the continued pressures on centrally funded research budgets. In the US, which is the largest market, the postponement of a federal decision on…

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