BUSINESS

Unemployment

Global Markets Overview – July 25, 2014

While equities continue to extend their gains, sentiment appears to be a bit mixed as the major currency pairs maintain some tight ranges. While there were a few developments overnight, the dominant theme remained US corporate earnings and optimism around an improving global manufacturing picture. US unemployment claims came in at the lowest since February 2006 and this saw the four-week average drop to around 300,000. This is a good sign heading into next week's non-farm payrolls data. With ...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning July 25, 2014

New York Stock Exchange
US economic data: New home sales fell by 8.1% in June - the biggest decline in almost a year. US jobless claims fell by 19,000 to 284,000 - the lowest level in nearly 8½-years. US Flash PMI fell from 57.3 to 56.3 in July, below analyst expectations for a reading of 57.5.

Biggest Australian IPO in 4 Years as Healthscope Could Raises $2.12 Billion

Patients sit together outside a hospital after they were evacuated following an earthquake in Acapulco, in Guerrero state, April 18, 2014. The powerful earthquake struck Mexico on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital and sending people running out int
The planned initial public offering (IPO) of Healthscope is expected to raise for the second-largest hospital operator in Australia $2.12 billion with private equity giants TPG Capital Management and Carlyle Group reportedly pricing the shares at $1.98, the upper end of the target range, Reuters reported.
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A smartphone user shows the Facebook application on his phone

Global Markets Overview – July 24, 2014

It was another positive night for equities, with gains through European and US trade mainly driven by optimism around US corporate earnings. Geopolitical risk was largely ignored yet again with traders favouring equities.
New York Stock Exchange

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning July 24, 2014

IMF released updated US growth forecasts. US growth forecasts for 2014 were lowered from 2% to 1.7%. 2015 growth forecasts were kept at 3% - which would be the fastest expansion since 2005. The IMF believes the Fed can keep policy rates at zero for longer than mid-2015 if inflation stays subdued.

CBA, NAB, Westpac in Fixed Rate War Offering Below 5% Interest

Three of the big four banks in Australia cut their fixed interest rates on Wednesday to below 5 per cent as part of a rate war among the lenders. The rate war provides borrowers the opportunity to enjoy record-low interest rates on the long term.
Stock Market

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon July 23, 2014

Today was a solid day for the markets and investors at last we saw the market putting some good ruins on the board and the ASX 200 hit a new 6 year high. The market was boosted by positive quarterly numbers from BHP Billiton Limited (BHP) and a strong rally into bank, insurance and transport stocks.By the end of trade the All Ordinaries Index had added 33 points and the ASX up 0.6% to 5576.7 points. The market trading volume increased today to 2.3Billion shares and all sectors closed higher.
A departure time flight board displays various cancellations as passengers stand nearby at Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv  July 22, 2014. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned U.S. carriers from flying to or from Ben Gurion Intern

China Military PLA Drills Affect Flights, Hundreds Cancelled

Travelers going in and outside of China are being advised to brace for potential delays and worst, flight cancellations in the next three to four weeks. The country's People's Liberation Army is currently conducting military drills over the East China Sea, thus imposing "air traffic restrictions."
New York Stock Exchange

Global Markets Overview – July 23, 2014

Global macro concerns may have outweighed trading yesterday due to light reporting; however out of the 36 individual companies that reported to the market, 79% beat expectations, meaning bottom-up actuals outpaced the global gloom being generated by geopolitics.
Housing

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning July 23, 2014

In US economic data existing home sales rose for the third consecutive month in June, up 2.6% to an annual rate of 5.04 million - an eight month high. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in June to be up 2.1% over the year. Gasoline accounted for two-thirds of the gain lifting by 3.3% in June. Stripping out food & energy prices, core CPI rose by a tame 0.1% in June to be up 1.9% on year ago.
Safety in Paradise’ video by Air New Zealand.

New Zealand Minister Announces Web Site for Scrapping Outdated Rules

Paula Bennett, the Local Government minister in New Zealand has called for innovative steps to ensure public participation in undoing archaic rules and regulations, reports NZ Herald. The reformist minister hit out at the hard rules choking citizens even in silly matters like signage for cake stalls or position of shower curtains.

New Zealand's Largest Snack Food Company Bought for NZ$700 Million

The largest snack food company in New Zealand is sold to the Philippines' Universal Robina Corporation (URC) for NZ$700 million or US$609 million. Griffins, owned by Pacific Equity Partners which is a private equity fund manager in Australia, will be paid NZ$100 immediately.
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX)

Australian Stock Market Report –Afternoon July 22, 2014

It was another very quiet day on the Aussie market with total market turnover only at 2Billion shares well down own the daily average. Investors nervous about entering the market at present and larger investors sitting the day out from trading ahead of tomorrow´s June quarter inflation numbers (CPI).
Gaza

Australian Stock Market Report –Midday July 22, 2014

Usually a 2 points gain at the start of trade would not be seen as a strong start but since the SPI futures had our market set for a decline and we had weakness in overseas market this was a good start. But the joy was short lived with the market moving into the red within 30 minutes of trade.
Malaysian Airlines Jet

Malaysian Airlines Ukraine Tragedy Hits Asian Stock Markets

Only Shanghai gained 0.17 per cent or 3.48 points to 2,059.07 over the weekend at the close of bourses in the Asian market, while most of the major stock exchange in the region logged losses after the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was hit by a missile and crashed on Thursday.

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