Christine Gaylican

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has pushed higher by half a US Cent, to now be above USD1.0300, due to a strong US jobs market result on Friday night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 138.85 (0.94 per cent) to 14,700.95. The broad-based S&P 500 fell 14.87 (0.93 per cent) to 1,582.70, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index sank 29.66 (0.89 per cent) to 3,299.13. Wednesday's losses came after the ADP job report showed April job growth fell to the slowest level in seven months.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has dropped back below USD 1.0300 for the first time in three days amid falls on US stock markets and weaker commodity prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished Tuesday with a gain of 21.05 points, or 0.14%, to 14839.80, after falling 84 points earlier in the day. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 3.96 points, or 0.25%, to 1597.57, a new record high, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 21.77 points, or 0.66%, to 3328.79.

Bell FX, Rivkin Securities Currency Outlook: The Aussie dollar recorded gains overnight until early morning, but its strength will be tested anew with the release of China's manufacturing data later today.

The S&P 500 added 11.37 points, or 0.7%, to 1593.61, with all 10 sectors higher. It closed a hair above its record high of 1593.37, reached April 11. The tech oriented Nasdaq Composite Index rose 27.76 points, or 0.8%, to 3307.02, its highest level since 2000.

Bell FX, IG Markets, Rivkin Securities Dollar Outlook. The Australian Dollar has rallied to its highest level in over a week following gains on global share markets overnight, but this morning it has slowed a bit to at US$1.0347 (8:15 AEST), but seen to make a rebound in later day trade on the back of a weaker US Dollar pre-empting more stimulus to be declared by the Federal Reserve

Bell FX, Rivkin Securities, IG Markets Currency Outlook: There was a slight weakening of risk-related assets over the weekend with the lower-than-expected turnout of U.S. GDP. The AUD opened this morning below the 1.0300 level banking on hopes that the ECB rate decision will provide the boost during this week's trading.

FROM IG MARKETS CHRIS WESTON, Chief Market Strategist:The commodity trade came back with a vengeance today, and whether this is one-day affair or the start of something more compelling, we have seen traders taking shorts off the table, and many putting on new longs.

Takehiko Nakao has been unanimously elected President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) by its Board of Governors.

Telecommunications and materials stocks drove the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index to a fifth advance in a row after a string of firm earnings reports and an upbeat reading from the labor market.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is sitting just south of USD 1.0300 this morning which is slightly higher than where it was trading at local close of business on Wednesday.

IG Markets strategist Evan Lucas on Global Markets:Commodities and currencies alike are jostling for position heading into the start of May - as rate cuts, balance sheet expansions and increased stimulus measures dominate the financial headlines.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Tuesday was up 152.29 (1.05 per cent) at 14,719.46. The broad-based S&P 500 added 16.28 (1.04 per cent) at 1,578.78, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 35.78 (1.11 per cent) to 3,269.33.

Australian Dollar Outlook (BELL FX, Rivkin Securities): Slightly lower overnight by 0.17% $1.0258, the Australian dollar has been trading marginally higher at $1.0267 (8:50 AEST) at the start of this morning's auction against the US dollar.

US stocks moved higher amid mixed earnings reports, bouncing back after last week's losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 19.66 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 14,567.17. The broad-based S&P 500 added 7.25 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 1,562.50. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 27.50 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 3,233.55.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly lower this morning as traders remain cautious ahead of some Chinese manufacturing data due to be release today.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar had a quiet night on Friday after the volatile movements of last week and opens this morning below 1.0300.

Stocks rose Friday, trimming the biggest weekly loss of the year for the Dow, as continued strength in defensive corners of the market offset a selloff in International Business Machines shares.

Stocks continued their slide after a full slate of uninspiring corporate earnings reports provided little to compel investors to step in and buy shares.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains under pressure this morning and continues to trade below USD 1.0300 after a volatile week.

Investors struggled through a third straight day of volatility Wednesday, as weak economic data from Europe and disappointing domestic earnings reports prompted a pullback in U.S. stocks, the euro and oil prices.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is under pressure this morning and has traded below USD 1.0300 after a volatile overnight session in the northern hemisphere. The US dollar, on the other hand, got a boost

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar is higher, as overseas share markets bounce back from heavy losses yesterday.

The UK housing market remains weak. But with the UK economy on the edge of another recession, the surprise is that the housing market has not fallen more. And central London is booming.

U.S. stocks suffered steep declines Monday as a plunge in prices for gold and other commodities unnerved investors. Worse-than-expected data on Chinese and U.S. economic growth fueled the selloff, which began during Asian hours and spread around the globe.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar fell to a one month low during overnight trade as disappointing Chinese economic data and bombings in Boston weighed heavily on market sentiment.

Commuters in New South Wales will soon be able to review their emails and be online their social networking sites while on transit to work or school.

U.S. stocks traded in negative territory for most of the day Friday before paring losses late in the session to end off lows. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished nearly flat, losing 0.08 point to 14865.06, far off the day's low of 14790.57.