The nightmare that happened to New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra, in mid-2013 is recurring again on the first month of 2014. The dairy firm recalled on Monday 8,700 bottles of fresh cream sold under the Anchor brand over fears of E. Coli bacteria contamination.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 14, 2014
The local market worsened its position from lunch through to the close of trade, with the All Ords Index sliding by a little over 0.3 per cent. At its worst, the index was down 0.41 per cent and edged higher by 0.09 per cent at its best.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 13, 2014
The Australian sharemarket is in the red for the sixth time in seven trading days following disappointing U.S. jobs growth. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is 0.1 per cent lower, with the mining sector the lone improver at lunch.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 13, 2014
The non-farms payroll print from Friday night showed than nothing in the market is linear.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 13, 2014
In US economic news, non-farm payrolls lifted by just 74,000 in December, the smallest rise in three years. The unemployment rate fell from 7.0% to 6.7% - the lowest in over five years. US wholesale inventories rose by 0.5% after a revised 1.3% rise in October - suggesting that restocking would contribute to December quarter GDP.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 13, 2014
Besides the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Australian state of New South Wales could have boasted of another landmark that draws in millions of dollars in tourism revenues.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 13, 2014
To use some nautical imagery, the ASX 200 on Friday was a sail boat in search of a breeze to fill its sails. As such moving air was hard to come by; this was reflected in some of the slightest volumes of the week early in th session.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
The Australian sharemarket is slipping for the fourth time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index down by 0.2 per cent. Global markets did little to inspire investors, with European stocks dropping by around 0.8 per cent, while American equities finished a touch weaker.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
Equities remain mixed heading into the non-farm payrolls data. Expectations are riding high after the private payrolls reading released yesterday smashed estimates. Unemployment claims data released in US trade also showed some positive signs coming in at a lower-than-expected 330,000 (versus 337,000), lowering the four-week moving average to 349,000. All this positive data continues to support the argument that perhaps the US economy is ready for a rapid measured winding back of stimulus.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
In US economic news, monthly chain store sales rose 3.7% in December after increasing by 2.1% in November. US jobless claims fell by 15,000 to 330,00 in the past week.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
The animal rights group Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) has confirmed a scandal that broke out about a year ago on the use of horsemeat as food for human consumption.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
A day after speculations came out that Shell was selling its petrol retail and refining business in Australia, Business Insider reports that another oil giant brand, Mobil, is coming back to the Land Down Under after four years of absence.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 10, 2014
The Australian sharemarket was in the red for most of the day, only to surge in late trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 0.17 per cent, with only the mining, telco and utility sectors finishing lower.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
On top of its heavy losses in its international operations, Australian flag carrier Qantas suffered turbulence on Thursday when Moody's downgraded the air carrier's rating to junk.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
Sellers remain in control of the ASX 200 on Thursday, finding traction as the US jobs report wheels into sharper focus following the developments in the last 24 hours.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
The FOMC minutes were the main event of the overnight session and really didn't bring too many surprises. With most Fed members supporting the decision to taper as the economic benefits of the program have diminished, the conversation has switched to whether we'll see a more deterministic path to winding back on asset purchases.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
In US economic news, the ADP National Employment Report showed the private sector added 238,000 jobs in December - the fastest pace in 13 months. Analysts are looking for around 200,000 jobs to be added on Friday´s non-farm payrolls number.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
The Australian live cattle export industry to Indonesia is expected to receive a boost in 2014, resulting in over 70 per cent increase of volume. It would reverse the large cuts made Jakarta the past few years in retaliation for the expose of mistreatment of the animal before slaughter and to reduce heavy reliance on imported Australian meat.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 09, 2014
The local market failed at its attempt to recover this afternoon despite improving from the lows hit just before midday. The All Ords (XAO) finished largely flat after three days of losses, with the index slipping by a few points.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 08, 2014
Wednesday's trading session is panning out in similar fashion to Tuesday, with the Australian market fading after a strong start. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down by close to 0.2 per cent, with the miners once again the worst performers.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 08, 2014
Europe and the US finally shook off the holiday hangover overnight as a risk rally took shape on strong German employment gains and stellar US trade balance.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 08, 2014
In US economic news, the US trade deficit narrowed by 12.9% to $34.3 billion - the smallest deficit in four years. Exports lifted by 0.9% to a record high $194.9 billion, largely driven by a record lift in petroleum exports. Imports fell by 1.4%.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 08, 2014
Will Shell exit the petrol retail business? That is the speculation circulating in business circles amid talks that the oil and gas giant plans to sell its 900 petrol stations in Australia as well as the Geelong refinery.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 08, 2014
The Australian sharemarket failed to hold onto gains of as much as 0.35 per cent today, only to fade in the final hour of trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) lost 0.2 per cent, slipping for the third day, with the mining sector bearing the brunt of the selling.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 07, 2014
The Australian share market is flat at lunchtime in the East, despite a positive start.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 07, 2014
24 hours of global weakness have many talking about what to expect in 2014 after fairly universal disappointments from the world's service PMI reads.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 07, 2014
In US economic news, the ISM non-manufacturing index slipped from 53.9 to 53.0 in December - the slowest expansion in six months. The business activity index was relatively robust at 55.2. The biggest decline occurred in the forward orders index which fell 7 points to 49.4 - the first signs of a contraction since July 2009. US factory orders lifted by 1.8% in November, in line with estimates. Excluding transportation factory orders rose by 0.6%.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 07, 2014
The Australian sharemarket steadily worsened this afternoon, with the All Ordinaries (XAO) falling 0.5 per cent by close. Today was extremely quiet on the volume front however, with investors in holiday mode. There were around half as many shares traded as usual. The banks were minimising the losses at lunch; however the gains fell away with the rest of the market later in the session.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 06, 2014
Despite a better start to the trading session this morning, the Australian sharemarket has slipped into the red with no major events to act as market drivers. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.2 per cent, with some modest gains from the financials helping to limit the losses.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 06, 2014
Today marks the start of the first full trading week of 2014; however, it is unlikely we will see the current low volume trading environment improve. This is likely to return in mid to late January when all managers and investors finally settle back into work.
Vittorio Hernandez
Jan 06, 2014
