US markets finished the week on a positive note and largely ignored the negative sentiment from Asia and Europe. Investors even brushed off some disappointing economic readings with PPI and consumer sentiment coming in below expectations. The most significant move on Friday was perhaps Japan's sharp reversal higher after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested he is looking to start cutting corporate taxes in 2015. Abe reached an agreement with lawmakers and this helped Japanese equities rally, d...
In US economic data, producer prices fell by 0.2% in May with the core measure (excludes food and energy) down by 0.1%. Economists had expected 0.1% gains for both measures. Consumer sentiment fell from 81.9 to 81.2 in June, below forecasts centred on 83.0.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday at the Asia Society dinner in Texas that the country should target to be a global affordable energy superpower. And the way to do that would be for the country to continue making available to the world as fuel.
Apple's stock price target has increased with analysts predicting strong demand for the iPhone 6. They also expect the company to release new product categories that will further drive growth. According to reports, RBC Capital has raised its price target for Apple shares to $100.
The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell by 0.45 per cent today, hitting a two-month low and sliding for the third day. Despite some better than expected Chinese economic news late this afternoon, the Australian sharemarket finished lower with continued unrest in Iraq pushing both oil and gold prices higher while base metals fell in unison.
Arabic and Islamic nations have threatened to boycott products from Australia after the government's decision to change calling the West bank from "occupied" to "disputed" territory.
Investors piled in for Coca Cola Amatil as stocks become more appealing after $270.6 million sell
Local and global stocks are wobbling in the market on oil price hike
The Australian sharemarket is losing ground for the third straight day and is at a two-month low due to a renewed focus on Iraq. President Obama hasn't ruled out the possibility of military action in the troubled nation. As expected sharemarkets and commodities have been pushed lower by the uncertainty. Looking ahead, plenty of Chinese data in the dying stages of the session will be in focus at 3.30pm (AEST) this afternoon.
When Apple Inc announced a 7-to-1 stock split in April, investors knew it will bring the company's price per share down. After Apple's stock price dropped 85 per cent after the split, the stock has become a more attractive investment.
The near-term pullback in equities continued overnight, with investors focussing on developments in Iraq and a round of surprisingly weaker-than-expected US economic data. Tension in Iraq escalated, while US unemployment claims and retail sales came in below expectations. This gave investors an excuse to sell equities with sentiment relatively risk averse.
In US economic data, retail sales rose by 0.3% in May, short of forecasts for a 0.6% gain. But the April reading was revised up from +0.1% to +0.5%. Import and export prices rose by 0.1% in May. New claims for unemployment insurance rose by 4,000 to 317,000 in the latest week, above forecasts for a reading of near 310,000.
Mineral Resources acquired a 12.8 per cent stake in Aquila Resources, beating China's Baosteel Group in acquiring a bigger stake in a large-scale iron ore project that would develop a $6.9 billion port, rail and mine.
The ASX 200 ended lower for a second day on Thursday with sellers showing preference for the materials sectors, although most sectors ended in the red. The only sector to resist the efforts of sellers was the healthcare index which ended with a gain of 0.1%. Value today was solid with $4.3bln in shares changing hands.
With all the online buzz going on for Galaxy Premiere 2014 Tab, here are five things to expect.
Toyota Motor (TM) Corp. shares are up by 0.3 percent in early market trading, The Street reported.
A growing trend among Aussie home sellers show they prefer foreign buyers over locals
After Belgium and Canada, Australia has ranked the third highest house price-to-income ratio worldwide, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The Australian sharemarket is easing for the second day, with worse than expected job statistics, global market weakness and a World Bank forecast dragging stocks lower. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.5 per cent, with only the utilities managing to rise slightly at lunch.
Head of Google Australia expresses support to future changes on international taxation laws
Probably feeling refreshed and well-rested after a 2-day absence from the job, Pope Francis blasted the corrupt, slave laborers, arms manufacturers and human traffickers during his general audience on Wednesday. He described people or institutions producing weapons of war are "merchants of death" and therefore the world's harbingers of doomsday.
Equities unwound overnight in a move that started in European trade. Data in the US was limited and as a result investors just chose to focus on a couple of negative headlines. The World Bank lowered its global growth forecast for 2014 to 2.8% (from 3.2%) and the shock Eric Cantor loss was among some of the headlines investors focused on.
In US economic data, the Federal Budget was in deficit by US$130 billion in May, in line with market expectations. New mortgage applications rose by 10.3% in the latest week with the purchase index up 9.3% and the refinancing index up 11%.
A green paper prepared by the Australian federal government proposes expanding the crocodile meat industry in the northern part of the country to have a larger cut of the global market.
The Australian share market was sold off today, as data revealed Australian consumers have the winter blues and following a lacklustre offshore lead. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 16 points or 0.3 per cent to 5432.5 points.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expecting a 3.5 per cent growth for the New Zealand's economy for the year before going back to a 2.5 per cent average by 2016. According to the IMF, the country's economic expansion is being driven by favourable financial conditions, resurging construction activity, high commodity prices and a sufficient increase in immigration.
New Zealand is "more friendly" to start-up companies than Australia. Hobart native Craig Richardson is living proof of start-up success in New Zealand. When he left his home in Sydney to start his own tech company, he hasn't looked back since.
Instagram, Facebook's photo-sharing application, will be expanding its advertising reach outside of the U.S. to target users based in the UK, Canada and Australia.
Nokia Corp launched a foldable OLED panel technology at the recently held SID Display Week 2014
So Pope Francis isn't a man of steel or ironman after all. Or just so we thought? The incumbent spiritual leader of the 1.2-billion strong Roman Catholic church has for the very first time filed for a leave of absence from work since taking on the post in March 2013. Vatican assured believers and skeptics alike it was nothing major, just that the pope was tired.
