BUSINESS

Global Markets Overview – 5/28/14

US markets returned to trade on a positive note, with the S&P rallying to yet another record of 1,912. Not only did the S&P print a record high, it also closed right at the highs, which is a positive sign and says a lot about momentum. Sentiment was lifted by a string of positive data releases out of the US, including durable goods orders and the Case Shiller house price index. Both indicators were quite positive and confirmed the US continues to bounce back after a tough start to the year. As ...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 5/28/14

In US economic data, the 20-city S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index lifted by a larger than expected 1.2% in March and was up 12.4% on a year ago. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence index rose by 1.3 points to 83.0 in May. The regional manufacturing indices were mixed, with the Dallas Fed index retreating from +11.7 to +8.0 in May, while the Richmond Fed index remained at +7 in May. US durable goods orders rose by 0.8% in April after an upwardly revised 3.6% in March.
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A woman looks at the screen of her mobile phone in front of an Apple logo outside its store in downtown Shanghai September 10, 2013.

Apple Inc (AAPL) 'Significantly Underweight' Among Top 100 Holders of Stock

Apple Inc stock has significantly declined in the portfolios of major tech investors compared to stocks of companies like Microsoft and HP in an analysis from Morgan Stanley. According to the report, analysts believe the low portfolio allocation will benefit Apple Inc as it prepares to release new products soon including the iPhone 6 and long-rumoured i-Watch.

Global Markets Overview – 5/27/14

With the US and UK closed for bank holidays, attention was solely in Europe where we finally saw sentiment swing positive. The highlight of the session were comments by ECB President Mario Draghi which essentially confirmed that action will be taken at the June 5 policy meeting. Draghi discussed the possibility of negative deposit rates, further LTROs and a broad-based asset purchase programme. He also made it clear that they were concerned about an undesirable tightening of monetary conditions ...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 5/27/14

European shares rose on Monday following uneventful European Union elections and a decisive result in presidential elections in Ukraine. Reuters reports ´´Results from around the 28-nation bloc showed pro-European centre-left and centre-right parties will keep control of around 70 percent of the 751-seat EU legislature, but the number of Eurosceptic members will more than double.´´ In Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire chocolate manufacturer, record an emphatic victory in presidential elec...

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 5/26/14

The Australian share market started the trading week in positive territory, following gains on offshore markets on Friday. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed at its highs of the day, up 20.1pts or 0.4 per cent to 5490.4 points, while the ASX 200 (XJO) finished above 5500 points at 5512.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 5/26/14

Local stocks saw a flat start to the trading week on Monday. Selling intentions harboured by participants were stymied by the strong finish seen for US stocks at the conclusion of last week which saw the broader US market end at record highs on Friday.
A man looks at an electronic board displaying Japan's Nikkei average (top C) and various countries' stock indices, as passers-by walk past outside a brokerage in Tokyo April 16, 2014.

Global Markets Overview – 5/26/14

Equities managed to get into the weekend on a positive note, but developments out of the weekend remain on the European front. The dominant theme from Friday's session was modest US dollar strength with a solid new home sales reading helping sentiment along. The greenback enjoyed good strength against the yen and the euro, with USD/JPY nudging the 102 level. This puts the Nikkei in a very good position at the open today and we are currently calling it up 0.8% to 14,573.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 5/26/14

In US economic data, new home sales rose by 6.4% to a 433,000 annual pace in April, above forecasts centred on result near 425,000. The weekly Economic Cycle Research Institute index eased from 136.3 to 135.1 in the latest week but is up 5.0% on a year ago.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 5/23/14

After a volatile week ,the ASX 200 has ended in positive territory, albeit by a small margin of 0.25%. The transformative event of the week was the improved reading on Chinese manufacturing on Thursday which provided the mining sector with a timely fillip following the selling seen at the start of the week. Miners ended lower as a group although this came after the strong gains seen on Thursday. Gold miners were one of the weak spots in the resource sector. St Barbara Limited (SBM), an Australia...

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 5/23/14

The Australian sharemarket continues to make up for the tough start to the week, with better than expected signs for China's manufacturing industry yesterday and modest gains in U.S. markets overnight helping. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 0.3 per cent, with only the miners and energy stocks losing ground at lunch.
China exports

Global Markets Overview – 5/23/14

Equities extended their gains in US trade on the back of some encouraging manufacturing readings, particularly from China and the US. China's HSBC manufacturing PMI reading hit a five-month high yesterday and triggered strength across the risk space in Asian trade. Meanwhile in Europe the readings were mixed with manufacturing mostly weaker resulting in further strain in the single currency.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 5/23/14

In US economic news initial jobless claims rose 28,000 to 326,000 last week. US existing home sales rose by 1.3% in April to 4.65 million annual units. The increase marked only the second gains in nine months. Sales remain 6.8% lower than a year ago. The US Markit ´´flash´´ manufacturing index rose from 55.4 to 56.2 in April.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 5/22/14

Local stocks were able to add to early gains thanks to a better than expected reading on Chinese manufacturing. The ASX 200 ended the session within sight of the best levels of the session when the index was up by 67 points. Participation was solid with around $4.6 billion in turnover.

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