BUSINESS

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...
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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.

Private Label Brands Eat Market Share of Soup Giant

Campbell Soup's (NYSE: CPB) share of the soup market is shrinking because of changing consumer food preference as more people opt for healthier fares. This, in turn, has benefitted private-label brands whose sales are now eating into the soup giant's sales.
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

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday June 17, 2014

All of Monday's improvements have been wiped out after two hours of trade this morning. Continued iron ore weakness, geopolitical concerns in Iraq and Russia together with a downgrade for US growth estimates are some of the major drivers. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.15 per cent, with the mining and energy sectors the worst performers.

Shell Sells Stake in Woodside for $5.32 Billion

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is selling its majority shares in Woodside Petroleum for $5.32 billion after tax. That is equivalent to 157 million shares out of 190 million, in effect reducing its stake in the oil and gas company to 4.5 per cent from 23 per cent.

Global Markets Overview – June 17, 2014

After a downbeat European session, sentiment managed to recover in US trade, despite a continuation of Iraq concerns. There was some positive data out of the US including the Empire State manufacturing index, industrial production and the NAHB housing market index. However, investors seem to be looking ahead to the Fed meeting. The IMF was also on the wires downgrading the US growth forecast for 2014 to 2% (from 2.8%) and maintained 2015 growth at 3%. Major currency pairs just continue to hold t...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 17, 2014

In US economic data, the New York Federal Reserve manufacturing index rose from +19.01 to +19.28 in June, above forecasts for a result near +15. Industrial production rose by 0.6% in May, just above forecasts. And capital flows into the US totalled US$136.8 billion in April after the previous month recorded outflows of US$126.1bn.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft searching for missing MH 370

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370: 100 Days Later

It has been 100 days since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has gone missing on March 8, and yet authorities are still no closer to finding out the truth about its disappearance. As efforts to search for the vanished plane begin to wane, the frustrations of the 239 passengers and crew members’ families increase.

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