MARKETS

Australian stocks are trading flat at lunchtime in the East, but have managed to recover from losses reached early in the session.

The Australian dollar opened weaker today after overnight gains from RBA statement to hold rates.

The Australian Dollar has opened weaker this morning trading at 0.9820 after trading to an overnight high of 0.9966.

U.S. stocks climbed Tuesday, lifting the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index to highs not seen since September 2008, as investors applauded an agreement between President Barack Obama and Republican leaders in Congress that would extend the Bush era income tax cuts for two years.

US President Barack Obama has struck a deal with Republicans that should result in the so-called ´´Bush-era tax cuts´´ being extended for another two years. The deal includes a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits.

The Aussie opens lower today against the greenback at 0.9850.

The Australian stock market has posted solid gains following a strong performance from banks and miners and news the central bank has left the cash rate on hold.

Local stocks rallied today, reaching one month highs, as investors reacted favourably to the Reserve Bank’s decision to keep interest rates on hold at 4.75pct.

Global investment firm The Carlyle Group buys 55 per cent of hedge fund Claren Road Asset Management.

The Australian share market has started the trading day on a positive note, on the back of firmer commodity prices and expectations the Reserve Bank of Australia will leave interest rates on hold when it hands down its policy decision at 2.30pm Eastern time.

The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) merger with the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) will firmly integrate Australia into Asian wealth markets, according to a global market research provider.

The Australian Dollar continues to trade with conviction ahead of today’s interest rate announcement by the Reserve Bank.

Investors paused Monday after last week's run-up in U.S. stocks, reading caution into Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's tepid assessment of the U.S. economic recovery.

The Sentix index of investor sentiment in the 16-nation Euro region declined to +9.7 from +14 in November.

The Aussie opens marginally lower against the greenback today at 0.9890.

The Australian share market has closed flat, as rising mining stocks offset falls by banks.

Falls in banking and healthcare stocks impacted on the local stock market today, capping gains made elsewhere and contributing to a flat finish.

In less than 3 years, profits from global online advertising will surpass that of newpaper ads by 5.4 per cent.

Local stocks have started the trading week on a relatively steady note, following a flat offshore lead on Friday and mixed commodity prices.

The Australian Dollar had a strong rise on Friday evening finishing over 0.9900 as the weaker than expected non-farm payroll data from the USA for November fell short of expectations.

Australian Dollar: Unlike our cricketers who have wilted in the Adelaide heat, the Aussie dollar rallied sharply on Friday night and opens the new week at 0.9900.

US non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 39,000 in November, well short of expectations for a gain of 130,000.

The Australian share market held onto its early gains sparked by positive offshore leads to post its first weekly gain in three weeks.

The Australian share market held onto its early gains sparked by positive offshore leads to post its first weekly gain in three weeks

Local stocks ended the last trading day of the week in the black, however came off earlier highs due to falls on the Chinese share market and a predicted lower start for Wall Street.

Australia bonds weaken in response to stronger US data and optimistic global economic outlook.

Australian stocks are recording another solid session of gains, thanks to a firm offshore lead on encouraging US economic data and reports the European Central Bank has bought Portuguese and Irish bonds.

The Australian Dollar has opened almost one US cent higher this morning as global sentiment turned positive overnight.

U.S. stocks climbed Thursday, extending the market's strong start to the month as better than expected chain store sales and pending home sales painted a brighter picture of the U.S. economy.