MARKETS

The federal government plans to carve billions of dollars from spending in next week's mid year review to achieve a budget surplus in 2012-13 financial year.

by Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportThe predicament we investors find ourselves in is reminiscent of Woody Allen's take on the Cold War where the threat then was a nuclear war.

The euro fell to a new six-week low against the dollar Thursday after French, German and Italian leaders agreed not to widen the role of the European Central Bank to support weaker euro-zone state

The German IFO survey edged higher in November, with all three indices recording gains. The headline business climate index rose from 106.4 to 106.6, against expectation of 105.2. The second estimate of UK September GDP growth was unchanged at 0.5pct.

By Greg PeelLondon's FTSE was down 0.2% while Germany's DAX fell 0.5% and France's CAC was flat.

Due to the volatility of foreign exchange currency and sharemarkets since the 2008 global financial crisis, experts are encouraging investors to include precious metals in their portfolio.

Markets were rattled yesterday by the news that Chinese manufacturing activity contracted sharply this month to a 32-month low.

Property developer Stockland says it's still on track to match 2010-11 earnings per share figures, despite a slow start to the current financial year.

Global and Chinese crude steel production slowed in October to their lowest levels in 10 months, figures from the World Steel Association this week confirmed.

U.S. stocks tumbled Wednesday as surprisingly poor demand at a German government-bond auction and weak Chinese data weighed on investor sentiment.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA, FOREX.comNo one was expecting Germany to be the biggest loser today, especially since the Eurozone crisis has caused investors to flock to the safety of German bunds in recent months causing 10-year bond yields to drop to record lows.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 236 points or 2.1% while the S&P lost 2.2% to 1161 and the Nasdaq dropped 2.4%.

Oil and gas field service provider Titan Energy (ASX: TTN) is going public by listing in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Dec 7. The company hopes to raise $5.45 million capital by issuing 5 million shares at $1 per ordinary share.

- Monadelphous delivers positive AGM commentary- Brokers lift earnings estimates and price targets- Valuation keeps broker opinions dividedBy Chris ShawTough operating conditions mean an acceleration in revenue growth is not common among ASX listed stocks at present.

In Australia, construction work done is released. In the US, durable goods orders and personal income/spending data are released.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. This may seem odd in a week wherein the Risk Off trade is the clear dominant factor, but ATW's Jerry Simmons actually has a bullish underlying view on the Aussie dollar.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA, FOREX.comIt's a sea of green in stock markets today; however the macro situation remains as bad as ever.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 53 points or 0.5% while the S&P lost 0.4% to 1188 and the Nasdaq was steady.

Global alternative investment management firm MR Capital Management Ltd. is focusing its funds to the Asian economies in a major shift of its traditional portfolio because of the improved industrial activities in Asia and the obvious growth slowdown in developed countries of the west.

By Rudi Filapek-VandyckNo rumours preceded today's release of a surprisingly negative HSBC Flash China Manufacturing PMI which, at 48.

Employees of OneSteel have been warned to brace for tougher days ahead as the company reduces costs.

In Las Vegas, the metropolitan area with the highest number of foreclosures in the country, a number of bank-owned McMansions have literally gone to pot and been converted into indoor marijuana farms.

The local share market has followed global markets into the red, after US and European investors bailed out of equities overnight on ongoing worries about budget deficits. However the selling isn't as bad as was predicted, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down .

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) recovered last week $34 million of client funds of MF Global Australia, paving the way for the partial return of their money earlier than expected.

- ANZ remains bullish on gold- European buying seen as a sign of economic stress- Higher prices may limit Asian buyingBy Chris ShawGold recorded solid gains in October, closing the month 6% higher.

Here are the five steps that need to happen during any major business adjustment and some of the pitfalls to avoid along the way.

Cameron Clyne, chief executive of Australian banking major NAB who controversially passed on just 20 basis points of the 25 basis point cut enacted by the Australian central bank, despite the fact that the lender posted a 19.2 per cent increase in full year net profits on $5.5 billion is in line for a large pay hike.

There was no good news for shareholders in steelmaker OneSteel Ltd at yesterday's AGM in Sydney.

And Perth-based internet service provider iinet has confirmed its intention of buying Canberra-based TransACT for $60 million.