MARKETS

The Australian dollar managed to find some upside yesterday after Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens expressed confidence in China’s economic growth.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde has said that the global economy is showing signs of stabilisation, but warned that there is no room for policy mistakes at this critical point in recovery.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 6 points while the S&P added 0.4% to 1409 and the Nasdaq starred with a 0.

By Greg PeelIn 2011, central banks across the globe collectively bought more gold than they had previously over 40 years.

Judging by recent speeches and comments, the RBA is clearly wondering why the value of the Australian dollar hasn't fallen after that 4.7% dip on our terms of trade in the final quarter of 2011.

After a brief flurry of optimism that saw the shares rise yesterday in the wake of the expected fall in interim earnings, Myer shares closed the day down 9c or 3.3% at $2.28.

On February 14, the Bank of Japan broke with tradition and announced an inflation target of 1%.

Property developer Stockland Group yesterday took another move to expand its share buyback by selling another asset to finance the expansion.

Debt: Fortescue Boosts Raising To $US2 Billion, Nexus Cuts Reserves

It wasn't a surprise that consumer sentiment fell in the latest survey from Westpac and the Melbourne Institute, nor was it a surprise that housing construction finished 2012 on a weak note.

American International Group (AIG) is in quest for raising about $6 billion to repay a federal government bail-out. AIG will sell part of its stake in Asia subsidiary AIA Group in a long-awaited move to be able to repay the federal government bail-out.

by Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportWith the stock market defying gravity and the legendary market expert, Laszlo Birinyi, tipping the S&P 500 to rise 24% this year, the question is, are there any other reasons to be positive on stocks in 2012?Next week, I will look at reasons for being negative b...

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 56 points or 0.4% while the S&P gained 0.6% to 1402 and the Nasdaq added 0.5%.

By Andrew NelsonAustralian, US and even European share markets are up and running so far this year, with emerging markets posting even bigger gains.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 16 points or 0.1% while the S&P lost 0.1% to 1394 and the Nasdaq was steady.

By Greg PeelI suspect the US Federal Reserve is a little bit peeved with Jamie Dimond, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, even if JPM is the Fed's poster child.

By Andrew NelsonNew data from the Commonwealth Bank show an ever increasing amount of Australian exporters are curbing their borrowing intentions because of the continued strength of the Australian dollar.

By Rudi Filapek-VandyckFNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website.

Days after being rejected by a Kiwi billionaire, is there a new saviour on the horizon for embattled Tasmanian wood products group Gunns and its pulp mill project?

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 217 points or 1.7% to 13,177 while the S&P gained 1.8% to 1395 and the Nasdaq added 1.

Behind China's surprise $US31 billion trade surplus was a surge in demand for key commodities from Chinese industry, a development that will upset plenty of preconceived notions about the strength of Chinese industry and demand.

Sydney-based building products group, Alesco, continues to slim itself with another asset sale.

The move on Canadian grain group Viterra sent shares in Graincorp, our last independent grain group, up sharply yesterday.

A sense that the US economic rebound seems to be strengthening and the Chinese economy has survived its inflationary scare, look like helping the 'risk on' rally to continue on global markets.

A quieter, less hectic week is ahead of us here and offshore after the flood of data and the triple treat on Friday of the good US jobs data, the successful Greek bond swap and some good inflation figures from China which then reported a huge trade deficit for February on Saturday.

By Greg PeelThe now familiar geographical and price differential in the global spot uranium market has continued to narrow, notes industry consultant TradeTech, such that the premium offered for European U3O8 is not as wide as it was a couple of weeks ago over the pervading sell price for US UF6.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 37 points or 0.3% to 12,959 while the S&P was little changed at 1371 and the Nasdaq lost 0.

The Australian Dollar was pushed temporarily lower throughout local hours on Friday and a surprising trade deficit for the month of January was reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA, FOREX.comThe markets have brushed off the Greek news from the weekend including the repercussions from the debt swap and the Eurogroup meeting later today that is set to rubber stamp the release of the second round of bailout funds for Athens.