BUSINESS

Global Markets Overview – 4/15/14

Surprise earnings from Citigroup have certainly managed to snap the S&P out of its downward trend. The S&P registered its worst week since January last week, but snapped back on Citi earnings and better-than-expected retails sale.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4/15/14

In US economic data, retail sales rose by 1.1% in March, ahead of forecasts for an increase in sales of 0.7%. It was the biggest gain in sales since September 2012. Excluding autos, sales rose by 0.7%, ahead of forecasts for a gain of 0.5%. Business inventories rose by 0.4% in February, largely in line with forecasts.

Commando-style Underwear Makes Its Female Designer a Millionaire

Hollywood actors such as Eva Longoria, Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams have been caught on camera show their bush or tush or allow other private body parts to peek intentionally or unintentionally at the front and back bumpers or crotch areas. Rather than imitate these celebrities, Kerry O'Brien decided instead to make her own underwear line for women using materials and design that shows no visible panty lines when wearing figure-hugging bottoms or cuts through the skin because of the tight ga...
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Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 4/14/14

The Australian share market has started the trading week in the red, following more selling on Wall Street on Friday. Investors continued to book profits in technology, biotech and pharmaceutical stocks sending the NASDAQ Index lower by more than three per cent over the course of the week.

Global Markets Overview – 4/14/14

Sentiment is little changed from Friday's US close, when most major markets continued to lose ground. Once again focus remains on the upcoming reporting season after JP Morgan's results disappointed. Investors will always be concerned that earnings will not match valuations, and at the moment tech stocks and major banks are enduring the brunt of the selling. Regardless of the equity sell-off, it hasn't been a dominant risk-off theme as most major FX pairs remain fairly mixed.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4/14/14

In US economic data, producer prices rose by 0.5% in March (forecast +0.1%) with core prices (excludes food and energy) up 0.6% (forecast +0.2%). It was the biggest lift in prices in nine months. Consumer sentiment rose from 80.0 to a 9-month high of 82.6 in April, above forecasts centred near 81.0.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 4/11/14

The Australian share market closed sharply lower on Friday, following a big sell-off on US markets on fears tech stocks are overvalued. The NASDAQ closed lower by almost three per cent in the US on Thursday while the Dow Jones Index was down 267 points or 1.6 per cent.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 4/11/14

After two straight days of gains and almost reaching a six-year high earlier this week, local stocks are falling for the third time in five sessions. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.9 per cent, with almost all sectors in the red. The weakness can be partly blamed on significant weakness from U.S. stocks overnight, particularly in the technology space. Investors are perhaps questioning the value of some market darlings in recent times.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4/11/14

In US economic data, new claims for unemployment insurance fell from 332,000 to 300,000 in the latest week, well below forecasts centred on a result near 320,000. Import prices rose by 0.6% in March with export prices up 0.8% - both results above expectations. And the Federal Budget was $36.9 billion in deficit in March, around half economist forecasts.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 4/10/14

Local stocks continued their upward trajectory today, consolidating at the best levels we've seen since June 2008. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) added 17.2 points or 0.3 per cent by the close to finish at 5477.5 points.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 4/10/14

The Australian sharemarket is continuing to improve, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) 0.5 per cent firmer and near a six-year high. No sectors are escaping the gains, with at least modest improvements felt across the board. So far this month, local stocks have improved by 1.65 per cent.

Global Markets Overview – 4/10/14

We witnessed more green on screen for the US equity markets overnight as the FOMC minutes beat down any thought of an early rates rise in the Fed funds rate.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4/10/14

In US economic data, wholesale sales rose by 0.7% in February with inventories up 0.5%. The sales data was short of forecasts centred on a 1.0% increase. The weekly index of mortgage activity fell 1.6% with purchases up and refinancing down.

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