Christine Gaylican

The Dow industrials fell a fifth straight day as jitters over political uncertainty in Greece outweighed a rise in U.S. small-business confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 76.44 points, or 0.6%, to 12932.09, extending its retreat from last week's four-year closing high

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD is almost a cent higher from this time yesterday, currently trading around USD1.0210, as markets digest the results from the elections in Europe over the weekend.

The Dow industrials lost ground for the fourth session in a row amid concerns that elections in France and Greece could impede Europe's ability to deal with its sovereign debt problems.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: A disappointing non-farm payroll number from the US for April saw major equity markets move lower on Friday and take the Australia dollar with it to the mid 1.0100 level this morning.

A flat reading from the U.S. jobs market sank stocks and plunged the Nasdaq to its biggest single-session drop since November. Stocks shot lower at the open and remained pinned down for the duration of Friday's trading.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Weaker commodity prices pushed the Australian dollar lower overnight with commodity currencies under immense pressure as gold, copper and oil all ended the session significantly lower.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar continues to hold up relatively well as buying interest emerges just below USD1.0300.

U.S. stocks finished mostly lower Wednesday after a weak reading on U.S. private-sector hiring added to concerns over a worsening European economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 10.75 points, or 0.08%, to 13268.57 after declining as many as 87 points in early trading. The Standard Poor's 500-stock index gave up 3.51 points, or 0.25%, to 1402.31, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 9.41 points, or 0.31%, to 3059.85.

A surprisingly strong reading on domestic manufacturing fueled a rally in stocks and drove Dow industrials to their highest level in more than four years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 65.69 points, or 0.5%, to 13279.32, its best close since Dec. 28, 2007. The Standard Poor's 500-stock index tacked on 7.91 points, or 0.6%, to 1405.82 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 4.08 points, or 0.1%, to 3050.44.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar managed to respect the recent support level of USD1.0300 overnight following yesterday's interest rate decision to lower the cash rate by 0.50% to 3.75%.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has continued its recent appreciation, pushing into the high 1.0400's on Friday, as equity markets continue their firm tone while recently released Q1 corporate earnings are strong.

Hope springs from global markets and is seen cascading towards the Australian domestic markets with key commodities stocks gaining with the weaker US dollar. Analysts from IG Markets, Comsec and Morrison Securities share their views for this week.

MORNING REPORT (6am AEST)The US economy grew at a 2.2pct annual pace in the first quarter of 2012, down from 3.0pct in December quarter 2011 and slightly below market forecasts centred on a gain of 2.5pct. But consumer sentiment rose to a 14-month high of 76.4 in April, up from 76.2 in March and above market forecasts.

Solid quarterly results from consumer-oriented stocks including Amazon.com sent stocks higher Friday, pushing benchmarks to their biggest weekly advance since mid-March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 23.69 points, or 0.18%, to 13228.31, and the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index advanced 3.38 points, or 0.24%, to 1403.36.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar followed US equities higher overnight after better than expected company earnings and US housing data pushed markets higher.

Investors shrugged off disappointing readings on the job market and euro-zone economic confidence, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 100 points higher for the third time this month.

Rio Tinto and Chinalco's listed subsidiary, Chalco, have completed the formation of their joint venture (JV) to develop and operate the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, following the completion of all Chinese regulatory approvals. As a result, a consortium led by Chalco has made an earn-in payment of US$1.35 billion, in line with an agreement reached with Rio Tinto in March 2010.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has rallied back towards USD1.0350 following last night's FOMC statement release.

Surging shares of Apple and dovish words from the Federal Reserve chairman drove U.S. stocks higher for a second day and propelled the Nasdaq Composite to its biggest gain this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 89.16 points, or 0.69%, to 13090.72.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEST)The Federal Reserve has kept the policy target range for the federal funds rate at zero to 0.25 basis points. The Fed said the economy has been expanding moderately but vowed to keep rates at exceptionally low rates to 2014. Fed chief Ben Bernanke said that ´´we think monetary policy is in the right place´´ but that ´´doesn´t mean we won´t take further action´´ to stimulate growth.

The crucial inflation (CPI) numbers to be released on Tuesday will determine the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank, which analysts and investors are anticipating an undelying inflation rate within 2% could spell rate reductions. However, the RBA will consider the tension exerted by the budgetary allocations of the Federal government as well as the European recession fears.

The euro-zone private sector slowed in April according to latest data. The ´´flash´´ composite purchasing managers index fell from 49.1 to 47.4 in April with services down from 49.2 to 47.9 and manufacturing down from 47.7 to 46.0.

U.S. stocks joined a global selloff as weak euro-zone economic data and French and Dutch political uncertainty underscored worries about the region's debts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 102.09 points, or 0.78%, to 12927.17.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly lower this morning, currently trading just above USD1.0300, after weaker than expected local PPI figures yesterday, and renewed fears regarding the state of Europe's economy continued the weaker tone overnight.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened today in the mid 1.0300's after a fairly uneventful day of trading on Friday.

The Australian dollar and equity markets are seen riding the crest of weekend highs in the early morning trade. The positive leads from the U.S. and Europe will cascade into the markets early on Monday, analyts said.

MORNING REPORT (6am AEST)The key German Ifo business sentiment index rose for the sixth straight month in April, up 0.1 point to a 9-month high of 109.9.

The Dow industrials rose after better-than-forecast quarterly reports from Microsoft and General Electric pushed blue chips to their first weekly gain this month, while Apple's slide helped lead the technology-oriented Nasdaq into the red.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened marginally lower this morning, as weaker US economic data and rumours of a possible downgrade to France's credit rating saw a cautious mood return to the market.