Christine Gaylican

Stocks rose Monday, testing fresh multiyear highs, after a steady reading from home builders and news of Apple's plan to return cash to shareholders. Blue chips started the day in the red but rebounded after noon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 26 points, or 0.2%, to 13258.62.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD is unchanged this morning, currently trading at USD1.0605, due to another quiet offshore trading session

MARKET CLOSE (4.30pm AEDT)The Australian sharemarket managed to rise slightly today following a 1.5 pct rise in local shares last week. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edged higher by 0.4 pct or 16.5 pts to 4381.2. Almost all sectors ended in the black, with some weakness from the consumer staples and telcos holding the market back.

China continues its foray on energy securing measures with its recent joint venture with French energy giant Total SA ((NYSE:TOT) to produce and refine shale gas.

The Australian share market has started the trading week on a positive note, after European and US share markets posted strong weekly gains. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 25.8pts or 0.6pct to 4390.5.

A firm and steady opening has set in the Australian stock market today and analysts are closely watching if it would break the barrier resistance of 4320, an indicator that a change in sentiment towards the positive amidst concerns of the economy's correlation to China's economic slowdown may take place.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened this morning just over 1.0600 after equity markets had a strong run last week and successfully pushed the AUD higher once more.

U.S. stocks closed mostly flat Friday, punctuating the broader market's biggest weekly gain of the year in muted fashion after a soft reading on consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20.14 points, or 0.15%, to 13232.62. Blue chips snapped a seven-session streak of gains, the Dow's longest winning run in 13 months.

The upbeat sentiment in the U.S. and European markets is seen cascading to Australian share and dollar markets on Friday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has recovered ground trading back above USD1.0500 this morning as global share markets continue to rally.

Stocks rose, as the S&P 500 topped 1400 for the first time in nearly four years, after firm readings on the jobs market and manufacturing activity. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 36 points, or 0.3%, to 13220, with less than an hour before Thursday's closing bell. The Dow industrials are on course for a seventh consecutive gain, the longest streak since an eight-session run ended in February.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar extended its recent decline again overnight as the USD strength story continued.

Australian shares and currency markets are seen taking a step back on Thursday after striking gains yesterday. The continuing strength of the USD will drag on the AUD and commodity-related stocks. However, listed firms with big dollar exposures are likely to gain from this USD-AUD trend.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEDT - Due to the change in daylight saving hours in the US - Wall street now closes at 7am AEDT)In the Euro-zone, the consumer price index was unchanged at a 2.7pct annual rate in February, as expected. In the US, the current account deficit widened by $16.5 billion to US$124.1bn in the December quarter, above expectations near $114.2bn and equivalent to 3.2pct of GDP. In the UK, claimant count unemployment rose by another 7,200 in February. The claimant count rate of u...

U.S. stocks traded roughly flat on the day as the Dow industrials struggled to post a sixth straight gain, one day after the Federal Reserve said most of the biggest U.S. banks passed the latest round of stress tests. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up three points, or less than 0.1%, to 13181, in Wednesday afternoon trading.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEDT - Due to the change in daylight saving hours in the US - Wall street now closes at 7am AEDT)The German ZEW investor survey soared in March jumping by 17.1 points to 22.3 - the highest since June 2010.US retail sales lifted by 1.1pct in February, slightly above expectations. The January result was revised up to show a lift of +0.6pct (previously shown as +0.4pct). Excluding autos, sales rose by 0.9pct in February.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly weaker following the release of better than expected American retail sales, a positive announcement from JP Morgan and comments from the US Federal Reserve about the US economy.

Positive leads from the international markets are anticipated to redound to Australia's equity and dollar markets on Wednesday, thanks to the improving U.S. economy and the confidence generated in Germany's better economic trends.

U.S. STOCK MARKETSU.S. stocks rose in response to encouraging news about domestic retail sales and small-business optimism, putting key benchmarks above milestones they have been flirting with for weeks.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEDT - Due to the change in daylight saving hours in the US - Wall street now closes at 7am AEDT)The US employment trends index rose from 106.0 to 107.5 in February. The US federal budget deficit totalled $232 billion in February, above forecasts near $229 billion and above the $223 billion deficit in February 2011. The widening of the deficit in February was blamed on an additional day this year compared with a year ago. In the fiscal year to date the deficit is $581bn,...

The Australian stock market is set for a minor rebound on Tuesday in spite an underlying anxiety extended by a slowdown in China's economy and the anticipated move of the FOMC on U.S. rates.

U.S. stocks Monday struggled to extend a winning run into a fourth session ahead of a monetary-policy decision from the Federal Reserve the next day. Extending gains into a fourth session, its longest run in six weeks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 48.51 points, or 0.4%, to 12,970.53.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Overnight the Australian Dollar fell below USD1.0500 as a fall in commodity prices dragged our local currency to a seven week low.

US employment (non-farm payrolls) rose by 227,000 in February. The January result was upgraded by 41,000 to show job gains of 284,000. The jobless rate was stable at 8.3pct.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Aussie slips against the US$ on the back of Greece reaching a solution which Bell FX Currency Outlook: Aussie slips against the US$ on the back of Greece reaching a solution which has averted a technical default.

Markets will examine reports on import, producer and consumer prices this week. A handful of retailers are expected to post their latest quarterly results this week, including Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) and Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. (PSUN). The Federal Open Market Committee will give its latest policy assessment on Tuesday, and officials have signaled they are unlikely to launch new programs at the meeting.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has been sold off overnight, trading down to a low of USD 1.0525.

Global market trades have gone awry overnight that might cascade negative sentiments to the local market on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks were on pace for their biggest decline this year, hurt by soft readings on global economic growth and concern over a looming deadline for Greece's bond swap with private bondholders.