Global Markets Overview – December 23, 2014
The Santa Clause rally is rolling on in global equities with sentiment remaining positive as the S&P marches towards its record high yet again. The S&P closed at a record 2077 and is within a couple of points of its December 5 intraday record high of 2079. The bounce in crude oil prices seems to have been a flash in the pan with investors finally realising that comments by OPEC members from the weekend did not imply they will look to correct the current supply situation. In fact, Saudi Arabia se...
Rich Russians Flee As Country Moves Toward Recession
Like their Chinese counterparts who snapped up properties in London, New York, Sydney and other global cities when Beijing imposed cooling measures on its red-hot real estate market, uber rich Russians are abandoning ship.
Treasurer Hockey Forecasts Australian Unemployment Rate To Hit 12-Year High Of 6.5% In 2015
In his Sunday announcement of Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the changes are geared towards making the jobs and families a top priority in the coming year, 2015.
Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 23, 2014
In US economic data, the national activity index rose from a revised reading of +0.31 in October to +0.73 in November. Existing home sales fell by 6.1% to a 4.93 million annual rate in November, down from an expected level of 5.2 million.
Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon December 22, 2014
Australian shares improved for the fourth straight day with the ASX 200 Index up 1.9 per cent and finishing near intraday highs. Generally markets are quiet as we approach Christmas; however a surge in oil and iron ore prices on Friday have helped both energy and mining industries gain strongly.
Australian Stock Market Report – Midday December 22, 2014
The ASX 200 has started a holiday shortened week in the same fashion it ended the previous week; with solid gains. At lunch on the east coast the index was close to the best levels of the day. Local stocks pressed ahead on the back of gains for US stocks at weeks end, which capped off an encouraging week on Wall St. After being up 96 points, the Dow Jones finished higher by almost 27 points or 0.2%. The S&P 500 index rose by 0.5% while the Nasdaq lifted by 17 points or 0.4%. For the week, the Do...
Australian Dollar Outlook – December 22, 2014
The Australian Dollar had a quiet day of trading on Friday and has opened in the mid .8100's this morning.
Global Markets Overview – December 22, 2014
Markets ended last week on a positive note with the post-FOMC meeting bid tone continuing to resonate through the globe. The rebound in oil prices also helped underpin sentiment to an extent. While equities drifted higher, there were some notable moves in the fx space with the greenback gaining significant ground against the euro and yen. EUR/USD plunged to $1.222, breaking below its early December lows and now trading at its lowest sinceJuly 2012. The main event for Europe this week will be Gre...
Experts Warn Russia Will Suffer From Recession In 2015 Due To Sanctions, But Putin Says It Won’t Intimidate Moscow
After last week's fall of the Russian rouble, international economic experts are now predicting that Russia would undergo a recession in the coming year 2015 as more economic sanctions are imposed by the west.
Appointment Of 2nd Woman Tops PM Abbott’s Reshuffle Of Cabinet
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is no longer the only female in the cabinet of Prime Minister Tony Abbott after he appointed on Sunday Sussan Lay as health minister in his first cabinet reshuffle after more than one year in power.
Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak To Acquire Australian Citizenship
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of technology giant Apple, is on the path toward Australian citizenship. Over the weekend, he moved one step closer to becoming Aussie by becoming a permanent resident, which was granted to him because he is a distinguished person.
Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 22, 2014
In US economic data, the Kansas City Federal Reserve manufacturing index was steady at +9 in December with the composite index up from +7 to +8.
Mayweather In Bathroom Use Row vs New York Saks Salesgirl
American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr's temper again got him in trouble again on Wednesday night when a Saks Fifth Avenue salesgirl in New York City refused to let him use the bathroom of the department store.
Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon December 19, 2014
Australian shares completed a trifecta of winning days on Friday, closing around the best levels of the session. Over the course of the last week the ASX 200 has risen by almost 2.3 % , balancing the loss of the pre-ceeding week when the market fell by almost 2.2%.
Hoax Alert: Photo Of President Obama Kissing Another Man Resurfaces
It seems the Obama family is the favourite target of hoax makers in 2014. In November, Malia Obama was rumoured to be pregnant, although it was just based on a satire article.
Putin Blames Russian Central Bank For Rouble Decline, Admits Lack Of Plan To Fix Economy
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured Russians that the country's economy would eventually recover, he admitted on Thursday in a news conference that he has no solution yet for the worsening crisis following the drastic decline of the rouble.
Australian Stock Market Report – Midday December 19, 2014
Australian shares are improving for the third day after six straight sessions of weakness. The ASX 200 Index is up 1.3 per cent with the underperforming energy industry this morning's best performer.
Australian Dollar Outlook – December 19, 2014
The Australian Dollar has made back some of yesterday's post FOMC losses, currently trading around 0.8160.
Global Markets Overview – December 19, 2014
The momentum from yesterday's Fed announcement has continued to resonate through global markets, with equities in Europe and the US extending gains.
For Mayweather, The Prize Comes First, Not The Fans
American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr once more confirmed on Thursday his life philosophy - that the most important thing for him is money, not the fans.
From A Garden Of Bouquets For Tori & Katrina, Martin Place Becomes A Sea Of Colourful Blooms; Ex-Australian Idol Winner Writes Song About Sydney Siege
Martin Place is more than just a place to lay a bouquet of flower to celebrate the heroism of Sydney Siege hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.
Australian Stock Market Report – Morning December 19, 2014
In US economic data, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Indicators Index rose by 0.6% in November after a similar lift in October. The index is up 6.1% on a year ago. The Philadelphia Fed Index fell from the outsized 40.8 gain in November to 24.5 in December. US jobless claims fell from 295,000 to 289,000 in the past week.
If ‘Selfie’ Was The Word Of The Year In 2013, Selfie Stick Is Top Christmas Gift In 2014
It's not really a very high-tech product, but the selfie stick is tipped to become the top-selling Christmas gift of 2014 in Australia, retail experts said, beating other electronic gadgets such as fitness wristbands, cameras and game consoles.
Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon December 18, 2014
The local sharemarket has finished firmly in the black, following a strong lead from European and US markets. The S&P 500 enjoyed its best one day gain in a year, after the US Federal Reserve signalled it was on track to raise interest rates next year - reinforcing the strength of the US economy. That positive lead helped the All Ords finish up 1 percent to 5,189.
Australian Stock Market Report – Midday December 18, 2014
The Australian share market opened the session with a solid gain for the second consecutive session on the Thursday. The strong tone for the first half of the session came in the wake of similar gains for US and European markets in the last 12 hours. US share markets rallied sharply after the Federal Reserve gave a strong signal that it was on track to raise interest rates at some point next year - pointing to confidence in the US economy. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones was up by 288 point...
Pacquiao Turns 36, Gets Promotion In Philippine Coast Guard, Making Him A 1-Star General
Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao just added another title to his growing lists of hats to wear on Wednesday, his 36th birthday. He was promoted to honorary Commodore of the Executive Squadron by the Philippine Coast Guard where he is a member of its Auxiliary Unit.
Unlikely For Julie Bishop To Be 2nd Female PM Of Australia
The sudden slump in Prime Minister Tony Abbott's popularity had more than half off Australians polled believe that he does not stand a chance of keeping his post as head of state in the 2016 election.
Obelisk & Cobblers Beaches Are The Best Places To Sunbathe Nude In Australia With No Threat Of Arrest
Since it is summer in Australia, going to the beach is a common Christmas activity in this country.
Australian Dollar Outlook – December 18, 2014
The Australian Dollar has dipped suddenly to USD 0.8120 following headlines the FOMC had dropped the "considerable time" phrase with respect to its guidance on interest rates, and instead deciding it could be "patient in beginning to normalise" policy.
Global Markets Overview – December 18, 2014
US equities surged on the back of the Fed meeting, which seems to have hit a sweet spot as far as balancing expectations is concerned.