Christine Gaylican

The Dow was in line for a fourth straight decline after a weaker than expected reading on consumer confidence erased early gains prompted by agreements designed to address Europe's sovereign-debt issues.

Lacklustre trading is expected in Australian markets following the subdued overnight trading results in the U.S. and European markets still deeply embroiled in the debt crisis.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has recovered from an overnight low of USD 1.0527, to currently be holding steady around USD 1.0600, despite risk aversion trading seen overnight as concerns over the European debt crisis surface once again.

Stocks pared losses in afternoon trading Monday but remained in the red as investors focused on the standoff between Greece and its private creditors, as well as a surge in Portugal's borrowing costs.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains fairly much unchanged after a choppy session offshore which saw a fall in US equity markets as the benchmark Dow Jones ended down 0.58% to 12,660 points.

The Australian stock market is set to mildly rebound on Monday's trading in spite the weak leads from U.S. and European markets. What are today's market leads?

From Daily Forex Markets News and Analysis (By Christopher Vecchio, Currency Analyst) The Australian Dollar posted another strong week against the U.S. Dollar, gaining 1.60 percent the past five days. Quizzically, despite the Australian Dollar being the highest yielding major currency that we track at DailyFX, it was not the best performer this week; that title goes to the Swiss Franc

U.S. stock indexes ended mixed Friday after a reading on domestic economic growth fell short of expectations, with the Dow recording its first losing week of 2012.

He might still be pushing for the Tent Embassy's relevance, but indigenous leader Mick Gooda has emphasized that violence is not the answer to make known their cause for the aboriginal populace in Australia.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened above USD1.0600 against the Greenback this morning after hitting a three month high of USD1.0688 overnight.

The Australian Stock Market is seen benefiting from overnight gains, with the commodities-related stocks taking on the limelight on Friday's trading.

U.S. stocks declined slightly Thursday, giving back early gains as a round of disappointing economic data offset strong earnings from blue-chips and the Federal Reserve's pledge to hold down interest rates. (Read on for Global Markets)

Property research firm www.globalpropertyguide.com investigated on the property development in Japan almost a year after the devastating earthquake.The Tohoku Earthquake of March 2011 had a not entirely surprising effect - the Japanese are now more nervous of condos, and their prices have fallen sharply.

Property research firm, www.globalpropertyguide.com has featured the possibilities of investing in the thriving property market of Seychelles. Blessed by nature, the Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands with superb beaches, an unspoiled landscape, virgin forest, amazing marine life, lots of orchids, bougainvilleas, hibiscuses, gardenias and frangipani, and a profusion of bird species found nowhere else. It is 1,600 km off the coast of East Africa, with a population of only 81,000.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help the People's Republic of China (PRC) set up a pilot provincial emissions trading system that could pave the way for a national scheme and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

The Australian Stock Market has recorded early morning gains as of 10: 16 AM, the benchmark The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index is up 22.6 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 4309, while the broader All Ordinaries index is up 23.5 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 4247.7. Analysts are optimistic of the day's trading, sharing new leads and market insights.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Having reached a 3 month high the previous evening, the Australian Dollar has retraced 1 US cent overnight as the markets reacted to ongoing negotiations between Greece and its private creditors as well as IMF warnings on the European crisis.

Stocks declined, as investors eyed a standoff in Greece's debt-reduction talks and mixed quarterly earnings from a basket of major companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 39 points, or 0.3%, at 12669 in recent afternoon trading, on pace to post its second consecutive decline for the first time in nearly three weeks.

From Morrison Securities Pty. Ltd.: U.S. stocks edged lower, jeopardizing the Dow's four-session climb, as investors mulled the sustainability of this year's rally and watched Europe for developments connected to the region's ongoing debt issues.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 18.21 points, or 0.1%, to 12702 in afternoon trading.

Bell FX Currency Outlook:The AUD has risen to a 3 month high overnight, hitting USD 1.0570, as renewed optimism out of the European region sees an increase in demand for the riskier AUD.

Australian shares ended Friday on a strong note for their third successive week higher. Easing concerns about Europe's debt and more upbeat earnings from Wall Street boosted local optimism. At the close on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 24.8 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 4,239.6, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 24.4 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 4,303.

British actor Jude Law is among the individuals who received just compensation from the media empire of Rupert Murdoch's News Group as part of the settlement in the case involving email and phone hacking instigated by the editors and reporters of the now-defunct News of the World, lawyers and reports have confirmed.

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEDT)At lunch time, The Australian share market is climbing higher, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) up 20 points to 4,299. Most sectors are holding up ok, the miners strong after higher commodity prices over night and banks getting a buzz from strong results from key financial firms in the U.S. overnight. However the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples sector is off around 0.2 pct, with major food and liquor retailers losing ground.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains above USD 1.0400 as US equity markets ground higher following the release of sound US economic data and plans by the IMF to bolster funds for bail-out requirements.

Overnight gains posted on the S&P and most of Europe's stock markets are providing a good starting point for Australian markets on Thursday after a flat finish yesterday.

U.S. stocks pushed toward six-month highs as home-builder sentiment hit its highest level since 2007, and generally positive corporate earnings bolstered shares.

The final approval allowing Australia's Lynas Corp.'s rare earths facility to be fully operational is now caught in a thorny path of Malaysian national elections slated in March.

Some 540 local businesses in Australia have been investing in rapidly changing technology in the last three years in spite the low tax incentive from the federal government, according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Deloitte National CEO report.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Financial markets focused on the credit downgrade of the sovereign debt of nine European nations by S & P on Friday that again highlighted the debt woes that Europe faces.