MARKETS

Trader Peter Tuchman wears a "Dow 18,000" cap as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, December 23, 2014. U.S. stocks advanced on Tuesday, as the Dow climbed above the 18,000 mark for the first time in history and the

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon January 16, 2015

Losses almost doubled on the Australian market this afternoon with the ASX 200 Index slumping by 0.6 per cent. The mining sector's gains were wiped out in late trade with only the defensive telcos and consumer staples managing to rise modestly.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday January 16, 2015

Office workers are reflected as they walk past the Australian Securities Exchange building in central Sydney April 8, 2011. Singapore Exchange Ltd has terminated its $8 billion bid for Australia's ASX Ltd after the Australian government formally rejected
Australian shares are falling for the fifth straight day with the ASX 200 Index down by 0.7 per cent. This takes the falls this week to 3 per cent; making it the worst week since June 2013 for local stocks. This is also only the third time in 12 months the ASX 200 has lost ground from Monday through to Friday.
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Australian shares are slipping at lunch, with the ASX 200 Index down 0.7 per cent following weaker commodity prices and the biggest tumble since early January in the US overnight. The ASX 200 was down by more than 1.2 per cent earlier in the day. IN PHOTO

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon January 14, 2015

Australian shares faded this afternoon to post the biggest tumble in a week, with the ASX 200 Index (XJO) slumping by 0.9 percent to 5353. The local market has now fallen for three consecutive days - with equities dragged lower by weaker commodity prices and a negative lead from Wall Street.
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) examines a children's toy at market stalls promoting the livelihoods of small business owners at Downing Street in London, December 5, 2014.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning January 14, 2015

In US economic data, a survey of small businesses - the NFIB business optimism index - rose from 98.1 to 100.4 in December. The JOLTS job openings index rose from 4.83 million to 4.972m in November. And chain store sales were up by 3.8% in the latest week on a year ago, down from the 4.3% gain in the previous week.
New York Stock Exchange

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon January 13, 2015

The market has managed to recover some of its earlier losses to finish the session in the middle of the day's range - helped by better-than-expected Chinese trade data. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slipped 17 points or 0.3 percent to 5,382, while the ASX 200 (XJO) lost 18 points or 0.3 percent to 5,404. Eight out of the 10 sectors closed lower.
People work at the West Qurna oilfield in southern Basra October 13, 2014. Oil prices are hovering just above $90 per barrel, a level last seen in June 2012, putting a strong spotlight on OPEC producing countries. They face calls to cut output at, or befo

Global Markets Overview – January 13, 2015

There is no escaping crude's effect on global markets. A fresh five-and-a-half-year low in both West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent now see the oil prices well below US$50 barrel as it marches towards the expected support level of US$40 a barrel.
Stock market

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon January 12, 2015

The Australian sharemarket has followed US and European markets into negative territory today - putting an end to a two-session rally. The All Ords (XAO) has closed near the day's lows, losing 0.7 percent to 5,399. While the ASX 200 (XJO) fell 0.8 percent to 5,422.
A man is reflected as he walks past the Australian Securities Exchange building in central Sydney April 8, 2011. Singapore Exchange Ltd has terminated its $8 billion bid for Australia's ASX Ltd after the Australian government formally rejected the offer o

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday January 12, 2015

Australian shares have kicked off the trading week in the red following the best gains of the year on Friday. The ASX 200 Index is down 0.4 per cent with all sectors losing ground. This follows global sharemarket weakness and a drop in commodity prices.
A man walks into a Centrelink, part of the Australian government's department of human services where job seekers search for employment, in a Sydney suburb, August 7, 2014. Australia's jobless rate jumped to a 12-year high of 6.4 percent in July in what c

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning January 12, 2015

In US economic data, non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 252,000 in December, ahead of forecasts for a gain of 240,000. The unemployment rate fell from 5.8% to 5.6%. And average earnings fell by 0.2%, short of forecasts for a 0.2% gain. And wholesale sales fell 0.3% in November with inventories up 0.8%.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the markets open in New York November 7, 2014.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon January 9, 2015

The local share market has wrapped up the last trading day of the week on a positive note, finishing close to the day's highs. The All Ords (XAO) jumped 80 points or 1.5 percent to 5,440, while the ASX 200 (XJO) climbed 84 points or 1.5 percent to 5,465.
An office worker is reflected in the window of the Australian Securities Exchange building displaying the ASX50 curve for Wednesday in central Sydney August 7, 2013. Australian shares skidded 1.3 percent on Wednesday, its biggest fall in five weeks, hit b

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday January 9, 2015

The Australian sharemarket is off to its best start of the week with the ASX 200 Index up by 1 per cent. This is ahead of the single most important piece of data; the US non-farm payrolls (a monthly jobs report) out tonight at 12.30am AEDT.
Employment

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning January 8, 2015

In US economic data, the trade deficit improved from a deficit of US$42.25 billion in October to US$39bn in November. The ADP employment survey showed that 241,000 private sector jobs were created in December, above forecasts for a 226,000 gain. And new home loans rose 11.1% in the past week with refinance transactions up 16%.
The entrance to Shell's LNG Canada project site is shown in Kitimat in northwestern British Columbia on April 12, 2014.

Gladstone Makes 1st LNG Shipment From Queensland To Asia

The tanker Methane Rita Andrea made commodity history on Monday afternoon when it left Gladstone Harbour's Auckland Point to deliver to Singapore the world's first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) processed from coal seam gas (CSG).
The stock board at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is seen in central Sydney November 6, 2008. Australian shares fell 3.8 percent on Thursday, driven down by miners such as BHP Billiton Ltd, after U.S. economic data stoked fears of a prolonged sl

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday January 7, 2015

Australian share are sliding for the second day with the ASX 200 Index down 0.6 per cent; adding to Tuesday’s 1.6 per cent slump. The price of oil fell to a fresh 5.5 year low overnight; dropping by 4 per cent. The more than halving in oil prices in just six months continues to put the energy sector under the most selling pressure.
A worker walks at the Nahr Bin Umar field, north of Basra, southeast of Baghdad, November 16, 2014. OPEC producer Iraq expects to base its 2015 budget on an oil price of $80 per barrel, Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mehdi told parliament on Monday. Picture take

Global Markets Overview – January 7, 2015

The US market logged its fifth consecutive day of losses overnight, something it didn't do once in 2014. The last time it logged a five-day losing streak was December 2013.

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