BUSINESS

Global Markets Overview – November 28, 2014

European Central Bank
With US markets closed for Thanksgiving, investors focused on European trade and the OPEC meeting. Yields in Europe continued to decline as markets continue to price in the possibility of QE. ECB President Mario Draghi spoke again and reinforced that all assets are under consideration should additional measures be required. This kept bond yields calm and drove European equities higher. Just to put it into perspective, the German 10-year fell to just 0.7%, while Spain's dropped to 1.89%.

Beware: Black Friday Bargain Hunters, Clothes With Deep Discounts Are About To Go Out Of Fashion

A saleswoman stands inside a fur shop near the seafront, where minks and fox fur coats can cost up to 3,000 euros ($ 4,000), in Limassol, a coastal town in southern Cyprus February 19, 2013. In this seaside Cypriot town, an image of the Kremlin's onion do
A report by EDITD, a retail technology firm used by more than 10,000 US and UK subscribers, suggests several clothing items that retailers give a big discount because it would soon be out of fashion. By disposing of these soon-to-be outdated styles, stores maximise their profits and prevent having too much of certain styles on their stockrooms which if left too long would become stale and may force them to even slash its tag prices further.
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Men watch the stock board at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in central Sydney April 21, 2009. Australian stocks fell 2.6 percent on Tuesday, led down by banks and miners, on fresh concerns about the earnings outlook for domestic companies and a

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon November 27, 2014

Australian shares finished slightly higher on Thursday, adding to yesterday's 1.1 per cent surge. The ASX 200 Index closed a touch above the 5400pt level. This makes it three days of gains this week and takes the improvements over the past four days to 1.8 per cent.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the markets open in New York November 7, 2014.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday November 27, 2014

The Australian market is improving for the second day and is trading around its best level in more than a week. The ASX 200 is up 0.1 per cent and remains slightly above the key 5400pt level. This follows a 1.1 per cent surge posted on Wednesday.
A couple hold hands as they walk through downtown Sydney with their shopping from Australian department store retailer Myer, March 6, 2014.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning November 27, 2014

In US economic data: personal spending +0.2%, income +0.2%; durable goods orders +0.4%; weekly jobless claims +21,000 to 313,000; Chicago purchasing manager's index down from 66.2 to 60.8; pending home sales down 1.1%; new home sales +0.7%; consumer sentiment down from 89.4 to 88.8; weekly mortgage market index down 4.3% with purchases down 5.8%.
A metal sculpture depicting a stock exchange chart is seen in the reception hall of the Athens Bourse in Athens September 11, 2014. Greece on Thursday set the pricing on its offer to top up its recent three- and five-year bonds by about 1 billion euros (U

Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon November 26, 2014

Australian shares made up for yesterday's modest 0.5 per cent tumble in full with the ASX 200 surging at the close to end 1.1 firmer. It continues to be a volatile affair for local stocks this week with shares up 1.1 per cent on Monday prior to Tuesday's falls.
A man is reflected as he walks past the Australian Securities Exchange building in central Sydney April 8, 2011. Singapore Exchange Ltd has terminated its $8 billion bid for Australia's ASX Ltd after the Australian government formally rejected the offer o

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday November 26, 2014

The market volatility that has been a recent staple for local shares continued on Wednesday. The ASX 200 opened with a gain of 4 points before rallying to an improvement of 56 points at the morning highs. Thereafter the index consolidated within sight of the best levels of the day. The early improvements locally came despite flat results for European and US indices in the last 12 hours. European shares rose on Tuesday but gains in bank stocks were offset by weakness in resources. The FTSEurofirs...
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L-R), U.N. Women's Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Isobel Coleman participate in an event on empowering woman

Australia’s Gender Gap Is Wider At The Top

The gender gap in salaries in Australia just got wider. The latest report by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) said the difference grew to 24.7 percent from 19.9 percent. The gap is felt more among women executives who get lesser discretionary pay such as bonuses, allowances, overtime and other perks when compared to their male counterparts.
Global Stock Market Indices

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning November 26, 2014

In US economic data the consumer confidence index fell from 94.1 to 88.7 in November, well short of forecasts centred on a reading near 96.0. The Case Shiller home price index rose by 0.3% in September to be up 4.9% over the year. The US economy grew at a 3.9% annual pace in the September quarter, up from the 3.3% consensus forecast.
Office workers are reflected as they walk past the Australian Securities Exchange building in central Sydney April 8, 2011. Singapore Exchange Ltd has terminated its $8 billion bid for Australia's ASX Ltd after the Australian government formally rejected

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday November 25, 2014

The Australian market is having its worst day in close to six weeks with mining and energy stocks wiping out most of Monday's gains. The ASX 200 Index is down 0.9 per cent and remains just above the key 5300pt level. Local shares surged by 1.1 per cent yesterday following the surprise interest rate cuts in China.
Oil field

Global Markets Overview – November 25, 2014

Further record prints for the US markets overnight as stimulus from three of the four largest central banks, coupled with solid state specific economy data, allowed investors to keep the long auto-pilot on.

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