Vittorio Hernandez

The Australian sharemarket improved for the first time in four days today and has effectively wiped out most of this week's losses. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) gained 1 pct or 42.2 pts to 4333.2 with all sectors bar the healthcare companies ending higher.

The battle between retail giants Coles and Woolworths went up a higher level beyond grocery aisles into company books. On Thursday, Coles reported a 6.7 per cent hike in its December quarter sales which hit $9.4 billion.

Australians are following keenly the entry of mining billionaire Gina Rinehart into Fairfax after she became the biggest shareholder with her purchase of a 14 per cent share. They are even anticipating a clash between Australia's richest woman and Roger Corbett, chairman of the publisher, over major national issues such as the mining tax and carbon tax.

The bank fee class action lawsuit filed by Australians has expanded with the complainants now questioning $216 million exception fees collected by the lenders.

Australian shares have rebounded from yesterday's sell-off in early trade, following positive offshore leads. US and European markets rose overnight on solid economic data and on hopes the world's largest social media network, Facebook, would file for listing on the US share market. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 53.5pts or 1.2pct to 4344.5.

The worsening unemployment forecast feared in Australia as a result of another round of global crisis appears to be unfolding as early as the second month of 2012.

The Australian sharemarket kicked off the new month in a less than desirable manner with shares losing ground for the third consecutive day today. Despite this week's losses, remember that January marked the best start to a new year since 1994 with shares rising by more than 5 pct and improving for four straight weeks. Today, the All Ordinaries index (XAO) fell 0.8 pct or 34.7 pts to 4291.0.

Thomson Reuter and Crescent Wealth launched on Wednesday Australia's first research-based Islamic index. The index aims to provide investors who want to build Islamic-compliant Australian equity portfolios a powerful new tool for benchmarking.

The temporary ban on cattle export to Indonesia failed to dampen the growth of the Australian Agricultural Company (AAco) which even registered a 40 per cent improvement performance that led into a $10.5 million net profit.

Australian flag carrier Qantas was dealt another blow on Tuesday when rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded the air carrier's credit rating to Baa3 from Baa2. Moody's explained the cut in long-term senior unsecured rating of Qantas to expectations of ongoing pressure on the company's credit profile.

The ongoing price war between Australian supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths has led some MPs to seek a major amendment to the country's competition law. The legislators warned that the short-term benefits shoppers get from a 50 per cent price reduction on fruits and vegetables sold by Coles could mean disaster for the agriculture sector.

The Australian sharemarket is losing a little ground for the third straight session, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 0.3 pct or 13.4 pts to 4312.3. Most sectors are currently trading in the red however the retail, healthcare and telco sectors are all edging higher.

Australia's interest in Gina Rinehart, the nation's richest woman, continues to be fueled following her soon-to-be-completed acquisition of shares in Fairfax Media. Ms Rinehart, whose personal wealth is valued at $10.3 billion, wants a biiger piece in Australia's most influential media company.

The Australian sharemarket was higher for part of the day however was not able to hang onto gains for the whole session. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) fell 0.2 pct or 8.7 pts to 4325.7 and lost ground for the second straight day.

Australian consumers are expected to benefit again from the renewed price war between supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths with price cuts of up to 50 per cent on certain fruits and vegetables.

This year, 2012, would likely be as tough or even more difficult than 2011, Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan said on Tuesday in his first weekly economic note for the year.

After trading in the red for part of the morning, the Australian sharemarket is now gaining for the third time in five days. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.2 pct or 10.2 pts to 4344.6. Despite a weak start to the day, the miners and big banks are now trading in the black which is giving the broader market a boost.

Ratings agency Fitch will likely release the credit rating of the big four Australian banks in April. Fitch placed on Monday the AA ratings of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), Westpac, National Australia Bank (NAB) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) on ratings watch negative which is a hint the four could be downgraded by one notch.

he Australian sharemarket was unable to stage a late comeback this afternoon, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) ending the session 0.3 pct or 14.1 pts lower to 4334.4. Almost all regions of the market ended in the red with the exception of consumer discretionary companies and the utilities.

A survey for the Financial Services Council found that middle-age white-collar male workers in Australia with average salaries of $70,000 are frequent victims of age discrimination.

Australia's 5.2 per cent unemployment rate for December 2011 could grow further based on survey results that majority of top listed Aussie firms have no plans to hire new workers in the next 12 months.

While the average anxiety level among 700 banks across the world was at 3.15, Australian banks recorded an even higher anxiety level of 3.28 out of a maximum of 5.

The Australian sharemarket has kicked off the new trading week with uncertainty. Shares were lower on the open, gained for the next hour of trade and have now dipped into the red once again. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is down 0.1 pct or 4.5 pts to 4344.

The weak housing market in Australia and the pressure on the east coast economy has resulted in home loan customers taking longer than expected to pay off their mortgages. This has added to the pressure being felt by Australian banks which have to pay more for longer-term funding.

The Australian sharemarket managed to improve for the second time this week and for the fourth consecutive week. Shares have improved by around 5.5 pct so far in 2012. This is a much better start to the year than back in 2011 when shares ended flat in January. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) rose by 0.4 pct or 19.4 pts to 4348.5.

The worsening eurozone debt crisis has prompted Australian banks to be more aggressive in cutting their exposure to the embattled continent.

Westpac could follow the lead made by ANZ Bank of independence from the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) overnight cash rate cuts insofar as setting of interest rates is concerned.

The Australian sharemarket was closed yesterday due to the Australia Day public holiday and is gaining for the second time this week. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.6 pct or 28.1 pts to 4357.2. Almost all sectors are improving however companies within the consumer discretionary industry are holding the market back.

Two days after it downgraded global economic growth forecast, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also cut its outlook for Australia to 3 per cent from previous forecast of 3.3 per cent.