MARKETS

The US FOMC meeting resulted in the Fed reducing monthly asset purchases from $65 billion to $55 billion. The minutes suggested a shift in forward guidance. The Fed dropped its promise to hold rates steady ´´well past the time´´ the US unemployment rate falls below 6.5% and will look to use a wide range of measures in deciding when to raise rates. The Fed´s assessment of the recent US economic weakness was chalked up to adverse weather conditions. The US Current account deficit narrowed from $96....

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) is taking part in a global international investigation into foreign exchange rate riggings said to be as serious as the 2012 Libor rate scandal.

The Australian share market has closed slightly firmer today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 12.8 points or 0.2 per cent by close to 5373 points. The market had a volatile session, with the All Ords being down to 5351 points at one time, despite positive offshore gains.

The Australian sharemarket is modestly higher at lunch, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up by 0.1 per cent. Investors are remaining on the sidelines as the U.S. central bank is halfway through its two-day monthly meeting. Global sharemarkets surged overnight as Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has no plans to seize other areas of Ukraine.

As expected, the Russian Federation will look to absorb Crimea and for it to be fully integrated as early as January 1 2015. Celebrations in Red Square kicked off on the announcement from President Putin that the referendum from the weekend was evidence enough that Crimea 'wants to be run by a stable sovereignty, and that is Russia.'

In US economic data, the consumer price index rose by 0.1% in February to stand 1.1% higher than a year ago. The core rate (excludes food and energy) also rose 0.1% to be up 1.6% on a year ago. Housing starts eased by 0.2% to a 907,000 annual rate in February but permits rose by 7.7%. And net capital inflows to the US totalled $83 billion in January following outflows of US$126.7 billion in December.

The Australian sharemarket ended higher for just the second time in seven trading days. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) finished 0.5 per cent firmer to 5360.2, remaining below the 5400.0pt mark but bouncing from a one-month low. All sectors finished higher by the close.

Buyers were able to make an impression on the ASX200 in early trade on Tuesday after the index shed 1.76% in the last 2 days. The improved tone saw every ASX sector trade higher over the course of the morning. The positive momentum was dominated by Materials and Financials, helped by economic news out of the US which revealed a better than expected reading on industrial production which rose by 0.6% in February, above forecasts for a 0.1% gain.

Some of the weakest political and economic sanctions have been imposed on Russia overnight as Crimea is officially recognised as a sovereign state by the Russian Parliament, with President Putin signing a decree.

n US economic data, industrial production rose by 0.6% in February, above forecasts for a 0.1% gain. The New York Federal Reserve manufacturing index rose from 4.48 to 5.61 in March, near market forecasts. And the National Association of Home Builders index rose from 46 to 47 in March, short of forecasts centred near 50.

Canadian manufacturing giant Bombardier got part of a $5.16-billion contract to supply South Africa with 1,064 locomotives to the country's freight rail system, Transnet Freight Rail.

he Australian share market closed lower on the first trading day of the week, as Crimea concerns continued to weigh on investors' minds. Exit polls on Sunday showed 93 per cent of voters in Crimea chose to secede from Ukraine and re-join Russia in a referendum the West has labelled illegal.

Ten days after it first went missing, at least three jet takeover theories have erupted, and 600 possible landing spots have been drawn for the still missing Malaysia Airlines MH370. Still all figures. Nothing inconclusive.

The Australian sharemarket is slightly weaker for the fifth time in six trading sessions. Concerns relating to a referendum on the future of Crimea in Ukraine is keeping investors on edge. The vote is considered by the West to be an illegal undertaking. One of the reasons why markets are a little concerned is that Russia supplies Europe with more than a quarter of its oil and gas import requirements.

The weekends are becoming the 'days of choice' for China to announce major policy changes, with the PBoC announcing the widely touted widening of the trading band on the CNY on Saturday.

In US economic data, producer prices fell by 0.1% in February while core prices (excludes food and energy) fell by 0.2%. Both results were weaker than forecast. Consumer sentiment fell from 81.6 to 79.9 in March, below forecasts near 82.0.

Amid global focus on the aviation industry as the world waits for fresh developments about the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, the aircraft engineers' union at Qantas warned of a possible aviation disaster waiting plans of the Flying Roo.

The local market had its second worst day of the year; is trading at a one month low and recorded its worst week in three months. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 1.5 per cent today, taking the losses this week to 2.37 per cent (worst week in three months).

It was no surprise to see local stocks under pressure from the outset on Friday. One of the main talking points in the last day has been the latest round of Chinese economic news, which was released after the close of Australian trade on Thursday afternoon. The Chinese figures had the capacity to be a boon or a bane. The much weaker than expected results have meant the latter. As a result sellers returned to commodity markets, base metals finished mostly lower on demand concerns after China's...

After having seen an improvement in sentiment yesterday, it seems we are back to square one with renewed China concerns and Ukraine tension ramping up. China data was releases post local trade and this set the tone for overnight trade. Industrial production slowed significantly at just +8.5% which was well below consensus of +9.5%. Retail sales and fixed asset investment data also missed estimates and analysts feel the combined impact of these readings points to a high likelihood of a big GDP dr...

In US economic data, claims for unemployment insurance fell by 9,000 in the latest week to 315,000. Retail sales rose by 0.3% in February with sales excluding autos up by 0.3%. Both figures were slightly above forecasts. The Federal Budget was in deficit by $193.5 billion in February, smaller than the forecast $212 billion deficit. And import prices rose by 0.9% in February with export prices up 0.6% - both ahead of forecasts.

The ASX 200 spent most day moving higher, although prices softened in the last 2 hours as investors focussed on Chinese economic figures due for release after the close of local trade. At its best levels of the session the market was up by 41 points; at the lows of the day the index was still in positive territory with a gain of 2 points. Volume was reasonable at around $4.5 billion.

The Australian sharemarket is improving for the first time this week, boosted by much better than expected employment numbers. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up by 0.7 per cent.. Mining stocks are the best improvers following a tough start to the week due to concerns relating to China's economy and credit issues. The results of the monthly employment report locally and a handful of economic information from our largest trading partner, China are the two highlights today. China buys around ...

US equities managed to pare losses despite a lack of fresh catalysts to really drive sentiment either way. There was a continuation of similar themes from earlier in the week, with Ukraine uncertainty keeping investors at bay in Europe, while China concerns saw commodities remain subdued. A 0.2% decline in Europe's industrial production which was expected up 0.6% also weighed on commodities. However, copper managed to arrest its slide from yesterday.

In US economic data, the weekly mortgage market index fell by 2.1%, from 381.4 to 373.3, led by refinancing. The purchase index only fell from 169.6 to 168.8.

Oil giant Chevron, in an update on Wednesday, disclosed that with the completion of the offshore pipelaying at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia, the country's largest gas project, Gorgon, is almost 80 per cent complete.

Like other large air carriers that used to rule the skies, Malaysian Airlines has experienced financial turbulence in the past decade as budget carriers compete with them on price points.

The Australian share market was heavily back into the red today, although stocks managed to close off their lows as mining stocks received some positive headwind in afternoon trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed lower by 0.5 per cent with key financial players a big drag.

Sellers have returned to the share market on Wednesday having stayed their hand somewhat in the previous session. The themes driving sentiment remain largely the same, with the central discussion turning around the mining sector and the near term prospects for the price of iron ore. To that end, prices for the commodity have consolidated at $104.90 / tonne in the last day having suffered an 8% decline in the previous day.