BUSINESS

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon June 20, 2014

The losses accelerated for the Australian sharemarket, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slumping by 0.82 per cent. Despite today's weakness local shares still managed to rise by 0.3 per cent this week thanks to a 1.5 per cent surge on Thursday.
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Australian Stock Market Report – Midday June 20, 2014

The Australian sharemarket is losing ground for the third time this week, with almost all sectors in the red at lunch. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down by 0.5 per cent, taking some of the shine off yesterday's 1.5 per cent surge. U.S. markets managed to edge higher despite the threat of further military intervention in Iraq.

Global Markets Overview – June 20, 2014

US equities inched higher yet again after a strong recovery off the lows. Unemployment claims and the Philly Fed manufacturing index continued to show good signs that the US economy is in a recovery. While equities continued to eke out gains, the highlight of the session was the rally in gold. After testing a key downtrend resistance twice this week, gold was finally off to the races after breaking this downtrend. With the Fed maintaining its dovish stance and Europe ready to provide unprecedent...

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon June 19, 2014

Fresh record highs in US markets overnight helped local shares post their biggest gains of 2014. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 1.5 per cent, finishing above 5400pts for the first time in a week and largely making up for last week's 1.1 per cent tumble. Volume was also healthy due to index option expiry today. This tends to result in a spike in market activity.

Global Markets Overview – June 19, 2014

US equities extended gains on the back of the Fed meeting, printing fresh record highs, while the greenback lost some ground as yields fell. Most of the results from the meeting were expected, with the Fed tapering by an additional $10 billion and highlighted some positive signs in the US economy. While the Fed sounded upbeat about the economy, it certainly managed to maintain a dovish tone. Despite the tick up in inflation and fall in unemployment, Janet Yellen feels the easy monetary condition...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 19, 2014

The US Federal Reserve has reduced its monthly asset purchases by US$10 billion to US$35 billion a month. The Federal Reserve has cut the forecast range for economic growth in 2014 from 2.8-3.0% to 2.1-2.3%. Fed chief Janet Yellen said that weaker-than-expected growth could delay any move to lift interest rates.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday June 18, 2014

The Australian sharemarket has been modestly lower for the second consecutive session for most of the morning. A 1.5 per cent slump from the energy sector and weakness from the banks are holding stocks back most. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is now largely flat with the index off by just 0.2pts.

Global Markets Overview – June 18, 2014

Equities were firmer overnight despite a mixed round of economic data. In the UK, CPI came in well below estimates while in Europe the ZEW economic sentiment readings for Germany and the region also disappointed. Perhaps the weak data prompted equities higher given investors are hoping to continue seeing stimulus in Europe and low rates in the UK. In US trade it was all about the much stronger-than-expected CPI print. The reading had the market talking that perhaps the Fed's inflation target ...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 18, 2014

In US economic data, the consumer price index rose by 0.4% in May - the most in more than a year - while the core rate (excludes food and energy) rose by 0.3%. Economists were tipping 0.2% increases for both series. But housing starts fell by 6.5% to 1.001 million in May after rising by 13.2% in April. Economists had tipped a result near 1.034 million. And weekly chain store sales were up 3.5% on a year earlier, up from 3.3% in the previous week.
A train hauling carriages filled with iron ore is seen on the outskirts of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in this December 3, 2013 file photo. If Australian miners are worried about the dramatic decline in iron ore prices, it does

Iron Ore Prices Plummet to $89/Tonne

Morgan Ball, the director of BC Iron, said on Tuesday that the mood in Perth is apprehensive but pragmatic after iron ore prices dipped to its 2012 level of $89 per tonne.

Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon June 17, 2014

Once again sellers have focussed their attention on the 5400 level for the ASX 200, and once again buyers have shown their willingness to defend the key psychological level. The lows of the session were made in the first half an hour of trade. Thereafter sellers retired for several hours and the index recovered to trade at the best levels of the day at 5417. With an afternoon largely free of event, the index retreated to end the session flat.

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