BUSINESS

A pedestrian talking on his phone is reflected in the window of the Australian Securities Exchange as an investor watches boards displaying stock prices in central Sydney October 16, 2014. Australian shares slid 1.1 percent on Thursday after U.S. stocks l

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday October 22, 2014

The positive tone for the Australian share market has extended into Wednesday following solid gains for Wall St overnight. US stocks recorded strong gains on Tuesday supported by healthy corporate results. The S&P 500 has now gained more than 6% since its session low last Wednesday. In Europe stock indices rose on speculation that the European Central Bank is considering buying corporate bonds to revive the region's economy. Reports suggested a plan could be approved by December and start ear...

Global Markets Overview – October 22, 2013

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney (L) and European Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi speak before a meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) at the World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Washington October 11, 2014.
'Volatility is a natural part of markets, whereas highly accommodative monetary policy is not.' This was my statement on Monday about the effect of monetary policies on markets - it acts as a volatility depressor.
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The Apple logo Is Pictured Inside The Newly Opened Omotesando Apple Store

Global Markets Overview – October 21, 2013

Corporate earnings optimism is certainly driving US market as we expected - Apple released its results and the initial reaction to its thumping results added 1.1% in after-hours trade. It was up 2.1% in the cash market.
European Central Bank

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning October 21, 2013

European shares fell on Monday, trimming gains made in the previous session. German software maker SAP fell 5.8% after cutting its full-year profit outlook. The news hit the tech sector with the STOXX 600 Technology sector falling 2.4%. German sportswear firm Adidas rose 3.6% after the Wall Street Journal reported that an investor group was planning a bid to buy Adidas's Reebok unit. The FTSEurofirst 300 index lost 0.5%. The UK FTSE fell 0.7% and the German Dax lost 1.5%. And Australia's m...
Stock market

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon October 20, 2014

Australian stocks maintained earlier gains to close higher for the fifth consecutive trading session. Gains in excess of 1 per cent for the miners, banks, industrials, consumer discretionary and property trusts pushed the market higher. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) improved by 0.9 per cent or 47.2pts to 5307.3.
n office worker walks past an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) window showing the main losses for the day in central Sydney July 23, 2012. Australian shares slumped 1.7 percent on Monday, the biggest one-day fall in seven weeks, as investors fled from

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday October 20, 2014

Australian shares are improving for the fifth consecutive day, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 1 per cent or 55pts to 5314.5. All major industries are improving at lunch however global markets remain volatile and could easily change directions on news and data.
Federal Reserve

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday October 17, 2014

Global markets finished mixed overnight with investors shrugging off earnings results from Google, Goldman Sachs and Netflix together with better than expected economic news on jobless claims and industrial production. Investors paid more attention to comments by James Bullard (non-voting member of the FOMC). He said the Fed should consider delaying the end of its stimulus program with recent sharpmarket moves and falling inflation two main reasons.
Four thousand U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker

Global Markets Overview – October 17, 2014

The Fed can't stay out of the market at the moment. St Louis President Jamie Bullard has done a complete about-face by calling for the Fed to hold off on unwinding the asset purchase program at the end of the month.
Housing

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning October 17, 2014

In US economic data, the Philadelphia Fed business activity index fell from 22.5 to 20.7 in October. Across the sub-indices new orders and prices paid lifted while employment eased. The NAHB Housing market index fell from 59 to 54 in October - the first decline in five months and suggested moderation in the pace of new construction. US industrial production rose by 1% in September, well above forecasts. Strength in mining and utilities drove the result. US jobless claims fell 23,000 to 264,000 l...

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