MARKETS

Buyers have returned from the weekend with renewed vigour. Every sector measured by the ASX is higher at lunch time and a generally constructive note is in place throughout the region. This is somewhat at odds with the way regional markets finished last week.

The world of construction and architecture is abuzz now that China had begun building what could topple Dubai's Burj Khalifa and become the world's tallest structure.

Share prices of Middle Island Resources (ASX: MDI) zoomed 42 per cent on Thursday amid reports that it purchased a gold mine in Niger. Besides its new acquisition, Middle Island has exploration prospects in two other African nations, in Liberia and Burkina Faso.

One of the four original copies of the iconic Schindler's lists has reportedly hit the market, and bidding will start on eBay at a minimum of $3 million, CNET reported on Friday.

The market continues to flat line within the defined 4925 ? 4957 range. iQuant predicts a major pivot in the markets next week.

The latest quarterly online search data from leading independent digital marketing agency, Greenlight, reveals the search term 'last minute holidays' accounted for almost 3% of a total of 4.4 million searches made on Google UK for holidays, in May.

Local stocks were unable to stage any form of eaningful recovery on Friday afternoon. The ASX finished within sight of the session lows. Over the course of the week the index is essentially flat. At face value this result appears unflattering. Although when seen through the lens of the major development this week, namely the communications from Mr Bernanke, a flat result is better than a pass mark.

It would be reasonable to feel let down by the performance of the local share market on Friday. Most boxes were ticked for a positive session given the developments in the US and Europe overnight. As result the ASX started in positive territory, although the gains were short lived. At its best levels the index was up 7 points. At lunch time the market was plumbing its lows of the day with losses in the range of a half a per cent.

Agricultural trade relationship between Australia and Indonesia is improving based on the Friday announcement of Australian Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon that Jakarta will increase the number of its cattle imports to 25,000 heads in the next three months.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 78 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P gained 0.5% to 1689 and the Nasdaq was relatively flat.

The Bernanke speech may be in the rear view mirror now, but having navigated the main risk hurdle of the week markets have remained subdued. For much of the day the local index traded in a narrow range and volumes were equally constrained. The question to pose now: What's the next catalyst?

While its competitor Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) was short of its iron ore production for the first half of 2013, largest miner BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) had a strong year of production as it reported the miner's full 2013 financial year results.

Local stocks were enjoying some modest gains at lunchtime on Thursday reflecting the response to the Bernanke testimony overnight. The fact that price moves in the aftermath have been modest, in the main, indicates that investors are getting comfortable with the US central bank and its perspectives on quantitative easing. The real test will come when the Fed finally reduces the size of its monthly asset purchases from the current levels of $85bln.

By Jonathan BarrattCopper has managed a bounce from what many thought would have seen the commencement of another major leg lower.

By Jonathan BarrattCopper has managed a bounce from what many thought would have seen the commencement of another major leg lower.

American upscale fashion retailer Nordstrom recently admitted that they are experimenting with Wi-Fi and advanced video surveillance to track customers as they shop.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 18 points or 0.1% while the S&P gained 0.3% to 1680 and the Nasdaq added 0.

FNArena is surveying investor sentiment in Australia in an effort to generate, over time, a guage similar to the AAII Investor Sentiment Survey in the US.

The pattern of trade seen this morning continued over the remainder of the day as investors turned over the possibilities to emerge from Fed Chairman Bernanke's semi-annual testimony to the US Congress later tonight local time.

Regional markets have started Wednesday's session in cautious fashion as investors wait for US Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke's semi-annual testimony to the US Congress. The Bernanke testimony is split into 2 parts: Prepared remarks are released at 10:30pm AEST; and the committee hearing, which includes the Q & A session commences at midnight AEST. The prepared remarks will likely reflect the views of the FOMC as a group. To this end Mr Bernanke is likely to reiterate the perspective th...

Mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will appeal a decision by the New South Wales Supreme Court ordering the company to play Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, $200 million.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 32 points, or 0.2%, while the S&P lost 0.4% to 1676 and the Nasdaq slipped 0.

It was another quiet day for the Australian market, with only a 3pt rise for the All Ordinaries index (XAO). On a positive note, equities managed to rise for the sixth session, making it the longest winning streak since mid-January for local shares. Since the start of the year, the XAO is up 6.5 per cent while the US Dow is 18 per cent stronger and the stimulus fuelled Nikkei 39.5 per cent higher.

Australian wine marker Treasury Wine Estates will destroy gallons of wine recently because of weak wine sales in the U.S. The company said it would charge the losses, estimated at $145 million, against its U.S. business for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

US stocks closed higher again, another record high for the Dow Jones and the Broader S&P 500 indices. Good numbers from Citi group helped send not only the US indices but also the UK banking sector overnight. Boeing shares higher after Friday's slump. The US building sector was held back yet again - as investors start to look at the rising 30 year mortgage rates in the states and weight up the chances of a pullback in home lending rates.

By Andrew NelsonWhile anticipation of the upside from Japanese reactor restarts continued to slowly build, spot traders have decided to forge their own path.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 19 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P gained 0.1% to 1682 and the Nasdaq added 0.

- TWE writes down US inventory- management still operating on blind faith- value lies only in corporate actionBy Greg PeelCelebrated British wine expert and TV personality Oz Clarke unwittingly launched Australia's highly successful export wine industry back in the 1980s, according to a recent ...

Local shares managed to rise modestly after economic news in China failed to surprise. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edged higher by just 0.2 per cent, while the miners and consumer staples were two of the only losing sectors. Equities improved for the fifth consecutive day, making it the longest winning streak for the Australian market in two months.