BUSINESS

Commerzbank

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning August 13, 2014

In European economic news, Germany ZEW economic sentiment index fell from 27.1 to 8.6 - the lowest level in 18 months and well below expectations. The ZEW current conditions index fell from 61.80 to 55.5. No surprise that the weakness was driven by the escalation of tensions between Russia and the West. News reports suggest a growing number of the 6,200 German firms active in Russia are warning about a hit to their business. The survey was based on 222 analysts and investors, and conducted betwe...
Stock market yawning investor

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon August 12, 2014

The winning streak continued with shares hitting fresh six-year highs, rising for a third day and remaining above the key 5600pt level. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) improved by a modest 0.1 per cent despite mixed performances from global markets overnight. The US economy expanded at a faster than expected 4 per cent annual pace in the June quarter, while comments by the US central bank relating to inflation has increased the market's expectations of an earlier rate rise. The default of Arge...
More news
Stock Market

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday August 12, 2014

The ASX 200 started the second session of the week on the front foot with the index happily building on the previous day's gains. The market was trading close to session highs at lunchtime with a gain of points 55 points after US stocks held their recently improved tone into the start of the week overnight.
Three Models Of China's Xiaomi Mi Phones Are Pictured During Their Launch

Price Dictates Growth of Smartphone Market

The smartphone market is being shaken up as the tech giants' dominant positions are challenged by Chinese phonemakers that offer lower-cost handsets. With cheaper units that offer similar features to the pricier iPhone of Apple and Galaxy Android units of Samsung, companies like Lenovo and Xiaomi are grabbing a bigger share of the smartphone market.
Stock market indices

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon August 11, 2014

In broad terms the ASX 200 was able to maintain the levels that had been established in the early part of the day, although sellers had gained an edge in mid-afternoon trade when the index retreated from 5470 back towards 5455. Buyers returned in the final half hour of trade seeing the market close at 5457.
New York Stock Exchange

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday August 11, 2014

Sellers regained control of the Australian share market for the first time in more than a week on Monday following a recovery for US markets at the weekend. US share markets rebounded sharply after Russia said it had concluded military exercises near the Ukrainian border. The Dow Jones index rose by 185 points or 1.1% with the S&P 500 index up by 1.2% . The ASX 200 started the session with a gain of 38 points and buyers were content for the index to maintain levels of that order for most of the ...
New York Stock Exchange

Global Markets Overview – August 11, 2014

The markets have just come off one there worst weeks in two years. The ASX has seen six consecutive days of losses, shedding 208 points from the high at the close of July. The Nikkei has lost 910 points in the last eight trading days, as geopolitical risk sees buyers ducking for cover.
A worker weighs a collection of field coagula near a plantation at Bukit Chandang in the district of Batangkali, outside Kuala Lumpur May 26, 2014. A slump in natural rubber prices to multi-year lows is spurring Southeast Asian farmers to turn to other cr

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning August 11, 2014

In US economic data, labour costs rose at a 0.6% annual rate in the June quarter while productivity rose by 2.5%. Economists had tipped a 1.4% lift in labour costs and 1.5% rise in productivity. Wholesale inventories rose by 0.3% in June with sales up 0.2%, both short of forecasts.
Global Stock Market Indices

Telstra Opens Financial Markets Data Centre at ASX

Telecom giant Telstra opened a data centre at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) that would connect financial centres. The Australian Liquidity Centre (ALC) was built mainly to make available fast and reliable connectivity to other major financial centres.
Apple Ipad tablet

iPads, Macbooks Banned in Chinese Gov't Report Denied; Apple Inc. Leads Global PC Market Share

A report has recently circulated that China has banned the use of Apple devices such as iPads and Macbooks in government. The Chinese government has allegedly excluded Apple from its list of authorised products for official use due to security concerns. In a Bloomberg report, government officials who requested not to be identified, said China has discontinued the procurement of ten Apple products. The items have been removed from a list distributed in July.
New York City

New York Property Bubble Close to Bursting, Says Portfolio Manager

A U.S. portfolio manager claimed New York's property bubble could pop due to a rise in demand, a great deal of foreign transactions (led by the Chinese), and a loophole in the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), which imposes tax obligations on foreign investors, according to a commentary published on CNBC.
New York Stock Exchange

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning August 8, 2014

In US economic data, consumer credit rose by a less than expected $17.26 billion to $3.21 trillion in June. Revolving credit, which mostly measures credit-card use, increased only $941.54 million after a downwardly revised $1.74 billion in May- it was still the fourth consecutive monthly increase. US jobless claims fell by 14,000 to 289,000 last week.
Rio Tinto visit of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Cost-Cutting Doubles Rio Tinto’s 1st Half Underlying Profit to $5.1 Billion

Mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) reported on Thursday first half underlying profit of $5.1 billion despite falling iron ore prices by about 30 per cent. It is up 21 per cent compared to the same period in 2013. The boost in profit was the result of cost-cutting measures applied on capital projects and operating cost.
Global Stock Market Indices

Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon August 7, 2014

The Australian sharemarket fell for the fifth day; its longest losing streak in eight months. Weaker than expected employment figures and falls in European markets overnight were drivers. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell by 0.1 per cent; however managed to close just above a key level at 5500.7.

Pages