MARKETS

US factory orders rose by 0.8pct in May, just short of forecasts centred on a gain of 1.0pct. Orders for durable goods rose by 2.1pct.

By Greg PeelThe Dow lost 12 points or 0.1% while the S&P fell 0.1% to 1337 and the Nasdaq added 0.4%.In yesterday's Asian session, ratings agency Moody's warned that having examined Beijing's audit of Chinese local government debt exposures it had potentially found significant discrep...

By Greg PeelAs Australia's economic data have bounced around recently and global issues have created uncertainty, economists have to-ed and fro-ed with their expectations of the timing of another RBA rate rise.

Australia is seen to post modest gains on Wednesday's trading day. Here's a first look at the markets as it opens today:

By Greg PeelEuropean stock markets continued the upward push last night, responding to Friday's strength on Wall Street and the agreement by EU officials to rubber stamp the release of the E12bn tranche of funds for Greece on the weekend.

Non-bank margins may be unviable as a result of the government's ban on exit fees, Aussie CEO Stephen Porges has claimed.

With thin market conditions last night due to the US Independence Day Holiday, the AUD is fairly unchanged this morning currently trading around USD1.0730.

- The uranium spot price is under pressure once more- Excess supply is expected in the medium term post Fukushima- Goldman Sachs does not nevertheless see a longer term Chernobyl impactBy Greg PeelAt end-May, the global spot uranium price indicator as derived by industry consultant TradeTech had ris...

The U.S. dollar was modestly lower in holiday-thinned trade Monday as the euro brushed aside concerns triggered by Standard & Poor's warning on Greece's debt. Standard & Poor's warning that a debt rollover plan for Greece would be akin to a default rattled markets and negated the positive momentum seen after euro-zone ministers approved funding for Greece this past weekend.

A stress test conducted by the European insurance regulator, EIOPA, has revealed that 10pct of European insurers would need to raise fresh capital in the event of a severe economic shock.

A big week for most markets, especially in the US where a relief rally saw the best gains in two years and European markets had their best week in a year.

The HIA has forecast a "chill wind" for residential building activity over the next year.

U.S. stocks surged Friday, notching the biggest weekly gain in nearly two years, as a strong reading of manufacturing activity lifted investor spirits ahead of the long holiday weekend.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website.Risk assets have done it tough since late April.

(This story was originally written and published on Wednesday, 29th June 2011. It has bee re-published to make it available to non-paying members at FNArena and to readers elsewhere).

Greece seems to be behind us, but the US debt ceiling brawl continues towards the August 2 deadline.

The US ISM manufacturing index rose unexpectedly from 53.5 to 55.3 in June - marking the first rise in four months.

A week ago, the AMP's chief strategist and chief economist, Dr Shane Oliver, re-examined the Wall of Worry that confronts markets and investors.

One thing is certain, markets in the coming financial year will not be underwritten by the US Federal Reserve's easy money activities (AKA QE2), they will have to look to more mundane factors for their stimulus.

Greece finally found sense this week and avoided committing financial suicide, for the time being at least.

For us in Australia, the 2010-11 financial year, June 30 half year, June quarter and month of June have all been confusing, to say the least.

U.S. stocks closed the second quarter with a fourth straight day of gains as encouraging Chicago-area economic data and a pledge from German banks to support heavily indebted Greece whetted investors' risk appetite.

The ISM Chicago business index rose from 56.6 to 61.1 in June. The result was well ahead of expectations which centred on a result around 54.

Hand it to the Chinese as they not only have the second biggest economy in the world but also two of the longest cross-sea bridges in the planet with the Thursday unveiling of the country’s 41-kilometre Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.

- Equities mixed, copper strong in July- US dollar tends to outperform commodity currencies for the month- Bond markets not expected to show any yield advanceBy Chris ShawEquity markets typically deliver some extreme performances in July according to Barclays Capital, the group noting the month tend...

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 152 points or 1.3% while the S&P gained 1.0% and the Nasdaq added 1.2%.Pop quiz: Did Wall Street finish higher or lower on the June quarter?The simple assumption is lower, given the April-June period has been all about the Greek correction with overtones of the US "soft patc...

There's one nasty fact about the US economy that has been obscured by the very public argument about America's debt ceiling, the threat of a default and the tooing and froing ahead of next year's election.

From IG Markets Analyst Ben Potter:On Wall Street overnight, stock finished the quarter and end of the first half in bullish fashion, logging its fourth consecutive gain as Greece passed a second crucial vote on the implementation of the latest austerity package and a much stronger-than-expected Chicago PMI number.

The MPA Brokers on Non-Banks survey, proudly sponsored by Advantedge Financial Services, closes next Monday 4th July and this year's prize could provide a welcome fillip to your business.