BUSINESS

An office worker is reflected in the window of the Australian Securities Exchange building displaying the ASX50 curve for Wednesday in central Sydney August 7, 2013. Australian shares skidded 1.3 percent on Wednesday, its biggest fall in five weeks, hit b

Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon December 19, 2014

Australian shares completed a trifecta of winning days on Friday, closing around the best levels of the session. Over the course of the last week the ASX 200 has risen by almost 2.3 % , balancing the loss of the pre-ceeding week when the market fell by almost 2.2%.
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A screen displays news on the Dow Jones Industrial Average just after the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange October 15, 2014. U.S. stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday as economic data reinforced concerns about the health of the

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 19, 2014

In US economic data, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Indicators Index rose by 0.6% in November after a similar lift in October. The index is up 6.1% on a year ago. The Philadelphia Fed Index fell from the outsized 40.8 gain in November to 24.5 in December. US jobless claims fell from 295,000 to 289,000 in the past week.
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Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon December 18, 2014

The local sharemarket has finished firmly in the black, following a strong lead from European and US markets. The S&P 500 enjoyed its best one day gain in a year, after the US Federal Reserve signalled it was on track to raise interest rates next year - reinforcing the strength of the US economy. That positive lead helped the All Ords finish up 1 percent to 5,189.
An office worker talks on his phone as he looks the stock board at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) building in central Sydney June 15, 2012. Asian shares edged up on Friday, and the euro held most of the previous session's gains, as nervous inves

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday December 18, 2014

The Australian share market opened the session with a solid gain for the second consecutive session on the Thursday. The strong tone for the first half of the session came in the wake of similar gains for US and European markets in the last 12 hours. US share markets rallied sharply after the Federal Reserve gave a strong signal that it was on track to raise interest rates at some point next year - pointing to confidence in the US economy. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones was up by 288 point...
Australian one dollar coins surround a U.S. one dollar note in this photo illustration taken in Sydney July 27, 2011. Australian consumer prices rose by more than expected last quarter while underlying inflation proved alarmingly high, reviving pressure f

Australian Dollar Outlook – December 18, 2014

The Australian Dollar has dipped suddenly to USD 0.8120 following headlines the FOMC had dropped the "considerable time" phrase with respect to its guidance on interest rates, and instead deciding it could be "patient in beginning to normalise" policy.
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Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 18, 2014

In US economic data, consumer prices fell 0.3% in November - marking the largest decline since December 2008. Annual growth eased from 1.7% to 1.3%. The fall in gasoline prices (down 6.6% in November) was the biggest driver. Core CPI (ex food and energy) lifted up 0.1% in November to be up 1.7 over the year. US current account deficit rose from $98.42 billion to $100.36 billion in the September quarter.
The stock board at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is seen in central Sydney November 6, 2008. Australian shares fell 3.8 percent on Thursday, driven down by miners such as BHP Billiton Ltd, after U.S. economic data stoked fears of a prolonged sl

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon December 17, 2014

The Australian share market has ended a 6 session losing streak on Thursday with a gain of 9.6 points. The ASX 200 trade through a range of 41 points from low to high. The market was down 2 points at its worst levels and up 39 points at its best.
Today's Ordinaries Index curve is seen at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in central Sydney August 23, 2010. Australian financial markets bet on Monday that inconclusive weekend elections would deliver a change of government, ushering in a new mi

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday December 17, 2014

Buyers have made a rare impression on the ASX 200 in early trade on Wednesday. After 6 consecutive sessions of losses the share market has spent the morning in positive territory, having opened with a small loss of 2 points, before moving on to a gain of 33 points at session highs. As lunchtime approached the ASX 200 was ahead by 32 points.
A man checks currency exchange rates at an currency exchange office in Istanbul December 16, 2014. The Turkish lira weakened to a record low of 2.4140 against the dollar on Tuesday after a fall in the value of the ruble in Russia, a fellow emerging market

Global Markets Overview – December 17, 2014

Equities rebounded in European trade whilst US equities struggled as investors exercised caution heading into the FOMC meeting. Additionally, oil prices remained extremely volatile, with weakness prevailing. In Europe, traders focused on surprisingly firmer manufacturing and services PMIs, along with a vast improvement in the ZEW economic sentiment readings.
A man works atop of a building constructing site in Tokyo December 15, 2014. Japanese big manufacturers' sentiment worsened slightly in the three months to December but corporate spending plans were strong, a closely watched central bank survey showed, hi

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 17, 2014

In US economic data, housing starts fell by 1.6% in November to a 1.028 million unit pace. Building permits fell by 5.2% in November. Despite the mild pullback the housing sector continues to see healthy improvement. The Markit Flash PMI eased from 54.8 to 53.7 in December - a 11 month low. A reading above 50 still signalled an expansion in activity. Across the sub-indices output and employment expanded at a slower pace.

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