MARKETS

China's Q2 data failed to re-assure investors that all is fine and will remain fine inside the Middle Kingdom.

The Australia 200 CFD Index finished 0.4% lower at 4442.6, with both defensive and cyclical sectors weighing.

China seems living up to economic speculations by global experts as Beijing stepped up its efforts to slow down the country’s accelerating expansion with the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing that the Chinese economy merely grew at a rate of 10.3 percent over the year and leading to June.

China's GDP grew an annualised 10.3% in the second quarter, below consensus.

The Australian sharemarket is currently trading slightly lower with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 0.20pct or 8.5pts to 4468.8 at lunch.

The latest ING Investor Dashboard Sentiment Survey shows Australian investment sentiment fell sharply in the June quarter.

BigAir has a dominant share of a microwave market which both challenges and compliments Australia's planned fibre network.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged the Japanese government on Wednesday to continue its policy of curtailing Japan’s ballooning debt by finally imposing the controversial consumption tax hike as it stressed that fiscal reforms policy should ideally commence next year with the sales levy setting its footprint on the economy in a gradual pace.

U.S. stocks closed mixed Wednesday, with the Dow industrials just managing to extend their recent winning streak, as an upbeat forecast from Intel Corp. vied with more disconcerting views on the U.S. economy from retailers and the Federal Reserve.

A mixed bag of comment from Rio Tinto in its second quarter and first half production report issued yesterday.There was ...

A mixed bag of comment from Rio Tinto in its second quarter and first half production report issued yesterday.There was ...

The federal government is now forecasting a $3.1 billion budget surplus in three years' time, larger than the $1 billion...

And, after a couple of weak months, consumer confidence has rebound strongly in July.The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Con...

Singapore enjoyed better than expected economic growth in the second quarter, according to government data published yes...

AGL Energy's move to buy explorer Mosaic Oil NL for around $130 million for a big hole in Queensland will succeed.AGL w...

The week-long rally found some profit-takers last night as the Fed poured cold water on recovery enthusiasm. Dow up 3. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

US retail sales fell by 0.5pct in June after a 1.1pct fall in May. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.1pct. Economists had tipped a 0.2pct fall in sales (ex autos unchanged).

Gold, though little changed in early Asian trade, is seen to lose its shimmer and prices may reach the $1,200 per ounce because investors are now keener to invest in other riskier assets.

Australia's coal exports rose 10.1 million metric tons in June, as more demand from steel-making countries Brazil and India raises demand, according to data posted on the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp.'s website.

China's stock market rose after a two-week slump as forecasts showed earnings can exceed an economic slowdown.

Rio Tinto Group, Australia's third largest mining firm, reported a lower iron ore production in the second quarter, a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange indicated.

The Australian stock market has closed higher, lifted by hefty gains from the big miners and major banks.

The Australian sharemarket close 1.8pct or 77.3pts stronger to 4477.30. Asian markets are maintaining their strength in the second half of trade thanks to strength from both US and European markets overnight.

The Australia 200 CFD Index added 1.9% today, with the financial, material, industrial and energy sectors all outperforming.

Across Asia, regional markets are all pushing higher in afternoon trade after Intel reported a stronger-than-expected Q2 result and Singapore upgraded its 2010 economic growth forecast.

A rising tide has lifted all the boats on the share market today. Buoyed by optimism about the US earnings outlook and an overnight bounce in commodity prices, screens are a sea of green. An opening above the technically significant 4410 level on the ASX200 Index has also spurred buying.

The rising tide seems to have lifted all boats in the local market this morning with strong rises across almost all sectors.

The Australian sharemarket is up 1.4pct or 61.7 to 4454.2 at lunch with all sectors trading in the black.

Consumer confidence in Australia has bounced in a much stronger fashion than was expected.