MARKETS

Fiscal cliff negotiations dominated investor sentiment today, sending local stocks off recent 18 month highs and into the red.

The Australian sharemarket continues its formidable run, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up by 0.4 per cent or 19.2 pts to 4665.8. This makes it the Aussie market's fourth consecutive session of gains. Volume has been heavy over the past few days due to equity and index options expiry yesterday. Today marks the end of the final full week of trade for 2012. The market will be closing early on Monday and will not trade next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Risk assets reversed losses once again driven by headlines regarding the fiscal cliff negotiations. House Speaker John Boehner's pledge to work with President Obama was enough to help improve sentiment. There were also plenty of positive economic releases in the US including a better-than-expected GDP print and existing home sales data.

The overnight market focus was all on the US, and its unresolved talks to avert the so-called fiscal cliff which is doing a good job influencing the market at the moment. This has kept risk appetite low and seen to a slight weakening in the AUD.

The Conference Board leading index eased by 0.2pct as expected. Hurricane Sandy had an influence on the result. US September quarter GDP expanded by 3.1pct, up from the 2.7pct reported last month. US jobless claims rose by 17,000 to 361,000 last week.

By Greg Peel"We think this could be the beginning of a fresh reflation cycle for the global system," BNY Mellon's Simon Derrick told the London Daily Telegraph, "combining with the US recovery to mark a turning point in the crisis".

By Andrew NelsonDespite the twists and turns and a few kicks in the pants, 2012 was a pretty good year for equities.

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportThere are two investment rules you cannot break if you are to run your own investments inside a self-managed super fund.

Australia's mining sector would likely be in a gloomy mood on Friday, Dec 21, 2012. However, the cause of the downcast outlook is not because the miners believe in the Mayan forecast that the world would end that day, but over the pull out of a major Chinese investor in a resource project in Western Australia.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 59 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P gained 0.6% to 1443 and the Nasdaq added 0.

Despite a flat start on the back of falls on Wall Street, local stocks rose to fresh 17 month highs today as the Federal Government scrapped its commitment for a budget surplus in FY 2013.

Local stocks are trading flat at lunchtime in the East, slightly down from fresh 2012 and 17 month highs reached yesterday.

The Australian Dollar has dipped back below 1.0500 against the Greenback as a lack of development in US budget negotiations drives markets. The US Dollar firmed as risk sentiment turned negative on what appears to be a stalemate between US President Obama and the House of Representatives.

After having had a strong run in recent sessions, risk assets finally retreated in US trade as cracks appeared in the fiscal cliff negotiations. Equities were firmer in European trade as markets continued to ride on fiscal cliff optimism and on the back of a better-than-expected German Ifo business climate reading.

US homebuilding permits increased by 3.6pct in November to a seasonally adjusted rate of 899,000 units - the highest level in nearly 4½-years. In contrast housing starts fell 3pct in November but followed three straight months of solid gains.

The gender asymmetry in British boardrooms has scaled down substantially since 2007, according to the findings of a survey conducted by Experian.

There's some considerable carnage in DR headquarters this week. A Christmas flu has not only taken out your regular editor Dan Denning but a good chunk of the staff as well.

As the chart below displays, the Federal Reserve has, since 1913, destroyed roughly 97% of the [US] dollar's value. And that, despite (or perhaps because of) a mandate to maintain the same currency's integrity and stability.

- Chinese economy on the turn- Exports finally improving- Property market risks contained- Intra-Asia trade a big growth driverBy Greg PeelSigns have emerged that the Chinese economy has finally bottomed out begun a recovery after a long slow-down.

The battle for supremacy in Australian skies continues as Singapore Airlines joins the frenzy to get a larger slice of the aviation market by announcing on Wednesday a fourth daily service to Melbourne and the scaling up of services to Adelaide.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 98 points or 0.7% while the S&P lost 0.8% to 1435 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%.

The local share market rallied again today, with both the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) and S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) reaching 2012 and 17 month highs.

Investing in the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) is so yesteryear. Myanmar and Laos are, like, so yesterday. No, the real investment opportunity for your financial future lies in North Korea.

The question has haunted savants, wives and bartenders throughout the ages. But at least we have a hypothesis.

How much of the world's woe is the fault of people who claim to know things they don't really know...and to be able to do things they can't really do?

The Australian sharemarket continues its stellar run, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) improving modestly once again. Of the last 23 sessions, the Aussie market has ended higher on 17 occasions and has only finished in the red once in 9 trading days. The XAO is up by 0.5 per cent or 22.6 pts to 4633.1.

U.S. firearms makers see their stock slump as a result of Newtown shooting. Investors are in rush to sell of their shares in firearms makers as speculation is circling around possible new gun restrictions.

- Chinese growth to expand in 2013- US growth to be modest- Europe to remain a risk- Australia to lose its lustreBy Greg PeelIt all hinges on the fiscal cliff.

The Uranium Council has warned in a high-level advisory report to Australian energy and resources ministers that the country's position as top supplier of the mineral is at risk. The council blamed the development on domestic restrictions in shipping uranium.