ldr r1, =(SBMR)--> This code will not read a RAM/Peripheral register. The parenthesis is treated by the assembler to contain an equation of sorts that eventually results to a constant. Thus, this code boils down to ldr, r1, = constant.See my example and study it. Also read the Assembly instruction sets manual from ARM. The books by Sloss and Hohl are very good place to start with.