MARKETS

The poor Republicans have their Mitt in the wringer. Everyone is ranting and raving against him. Why?

The Australian sharemarket ended the day a little higher for the third time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 0.2 pct or 11 pts to 4430.8. The defensive healthcare sector lost a little ground but all other regions of the market ended in the black. Overall however; this has been a very uneventful week for broad market movement, with the XAO gaining just 0.5 pct over the past five sessions.

Local stocks are holding up relatively well in the early session, given a fairly subdued offshore lead. US and European investors were shaken by the weaker than expected manufacturing data out of China, however were also heartened by a successful Spanish bond auction. The Dow Jones Index finished up 0.1pct to 13596.9pts, while European shares were mostly lower. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 10.2pts or 0.2pct to 4430.

By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaI joined Twitter. Not because I am curious what this celebrity has to say about her kids, or to read that another one is waiting for a connecting flight, impatiently.

In the latest twist to the ongoing drama over the fate of the 21,000 Australian sheep in Pakistan, an independent veterinarian from the United Arab Emirates concluded the animals to be healthy, free from diseases and fit for slaughter for human consumption.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 18 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P was flat at 1460 and the Nasdaq lost 0.2%.My editor informs me there is much confusion in the market about how a purchasing managers' index (PMI) actually works.

The number of Asian millionaires surpassed that of North America's for the first time ever last year.

America's super high net worth individuals saw their net worth grow by 13 percent in the past year to $1.7 trillion, according to Forbes annual wealth survey.

The Australian sharemarket lost a little ground for the second time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slipping by 0.5 pct or 20.6 pts to 4419.8. The defensive healthcare and telco sectors ended higher, however all other regions of the market lost ground. Volume and value of shares traded was significantly higher than usual due to equity index expiry today.

Local stocks have come off the four month highs reached yesterday, as investors await Chinese manufacturing data coming through later this afternoon. The Australian share market rallied in afternoon trade yesterday after the Bank of Japan announced it would extend its asset buying program to 80 Trillion Yen. US and European markets also surged on the efforts to stimulate Japan's economy and tackle its deflation concerns. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down.

Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry placed on hold all sheep exports following the order by Pakistan authorities to cull 21,000 Aussie sheep tested positive for salmonella bacteria and actinomyces.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 13 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P gained 0.1% to 1461 and the Nasdaq added 0.

Local stocks rallied in afternoon trade, after the Bank of Japan followed the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank in providing more monetary easing to stimulate the global economy. Stocks had been trading only marginally higher before the announcement from the BOJ, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 22.6pts or 0.5pct by close to finish at 4440.4, a four month high.

The Australian market opened slightly higher today but fell in and out of the red in the first few hours of trade. The by lunchtime the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was only 7 points higher at 4,425 points.

Kraft Foods Australia has been pleased with the market take up of its belVita Breakfast biscuits. Launched in March 2012, research conducted in June 2012 by AC Nielsen Homescan showed market penetration of 10.9% (or more than one in ten) Australian households having tried the product.

The New iPhone 5, the latest smartphone of Apple Inc., will go on sale at company's retail stores in the U.S. at 8 a.m. local time on the 21st of September.

Maybe we're making this whole investment caper too complicated. You can analyse interest rates and currencies. You can talk about sound money and fair value. And you can look at technical trends and fundamental factors. But in the end, maybe we should just all buy Apple stock and quit while we're ahead.

Pakistan is pushing through with the culling of 21,000 Australian sheep despite assurances from Canberra that the animals are healthy and a court injunction obtained by PK Livestock, the importer, which should temporarily save the lives of the sheep.

Wealthy clients across Europe could withdraw "hundreds of billions of francs" from their Swiss banking accounts over the next few years.

Indonesia could soon surpass Germany and the United Kingdom to become the world's seventh largest economy, generating $1.8 trillion in annual gross domestic product, according to a recent report by McKinsey and Co.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 11 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P fell 0.1% to 1459 and the Nasdaq was flat.

- FMG announces very positive re-fi- Plenty of breathing space the result- Brokers upgrade ratings- Stock now even more highly leveragedBy Greg PeelAs at yesterday the spot iron ore price was trading around US$109/t which would have allowed Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest the chance to sleep a little better...

Following a weaker start to the day, the Australian sharemarket managed to gradually improve as the day progressed to end 0.1 pct or 4 pts higher to 4417.8. The miners, energy players and financials all lost ground today after leading the broader market higher yesterday.

According to the head of the Canadian Auto Workers, the union will focus on reaching an agreement with Ford Motor Co. as talks continue with all of Detroit's Big Three car makers with a strike deadline coming closer Monday night.

Citibank is currently disputing numerous claims which indicate that the bank took part in a fraud to get former partners Dewey and LeBoeuf to sign up for a loan course that financed their capital in the unsuccessful law company, in spite of understanding the critical economic circumstance being faced by Dewey.

It's been labeled as one of the primary reasons why job growth in the U.S. continues to lag, but apparently no one at the White House is listening.

The Dow was up a paltry 53 points on Friday. Gold was flat.

Local stocks have retreated today, as the euphoric effects of the US Federal Reserve's latest efforts to stimulate the global economy start to wear off. Overnight US and European markets eased, while oil and gold prices also fell. In the early session, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 9.8pts or 0.2pct to 4412.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA, FOREX.comThe markets are trading with a risk off tone at the start of the week.