Vittorio Hernandez

Conditions for global markets have improved in the last day following steep declines in the preceding session. Markets were initially spooked by weaker economic news from the US. This outcome antagonised sensitivities around Q.E, driven by concerns that the Fed is acting too quickly in relation to its tapering policy.

Maine police were expecting scenes of domestic violence when they responded to a call from a neighbour in the town of China last week. The neighbour reported hearing screaming, prompting her to seek police assistance. Their houses were separated by woods.

The slide we've been seeing in equities finally came to a halt with a recovery in emerging market currencies helping sentiment along. Good gains for the TRY and ZAR helped sentiment with Merkel saying Turkey's talks to join the EU can proceed. There was also some Fed commentary with Lacker saying he expects tapering to continue at upcoming meetings, and Evans suggesting the Fed will not deviate from its tapering course.

In US economic news, factory orders fell by 1.5% in December after rising by 1.5% November. The weakness was largely driven by a 9.7% decline in new orders for transportation. In fact factory orders excluding transportation lifted by 0.2%.

Elizabeth Starr has a very big problem and she wants to get if off her chest as soon as possible - literally. Ms Starr, a mother of two and actress in porn movies, had string breast implants in 1999 which caused her mammary glands to produce a serum that keeps on filling the implant pocket.

Two heads of churches are meeting in April and the event would surely be a historic one because the heads are no ordinary clerics. One is a queen and the other one is a pope.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key wants to win a third term as PM, he said on Tuesday morning at NewstalkZB. In wanting poll victory for the Nationals in this year's election, Mr Key said a PM's job is energising, but it could also be exhausting.

In addition to its current mobile banking for business, Westpac Bank is pilot testing the MoneyMeter apps for the Google Glass. Harry Wendt, the bank's general manager of digital, said trials of the app's use are underway in St George Bank to place its account balance monitoring app on Google Glass.

The Australian sharemarket slumped by 1.7 per cent, having its worst day in seven months and closing at a 1.5 month low. All sectors finished in the red following a 2 per cent slump in U.S. equities fuelled by disappointing manufacturing data.

The Australian share market has followed Wall Street's downbeat lead and is lower by 1.3 per cent at lunchtime in the East.

The only word to describe the trading on the US market overnight is brutal.

In US economic news, the ISM manufacturing index fell from 56.5 to an 8-month low of 51.3 in January, short of forecasts for a result near 56.0. Construction spending rose by 0.1% in December, close to forecasts.

In 2010, a young Filipino celebrity couple was the subject of speculation because of rumours that they were rushed to a big Philippine hospital in a vaginal lock while lovemaking. Anstomenis Exadaktylos, a Switzerland- based physician and author of a study covering 11 years of emergency hospital admissions, believes stories like that are probably urban myths.

Kremlin officials said on Monday that Russia is working to have a free trade deal with New Zealand by the yearend. The agreement would include Belarus and Kazakhstan, the New Zealand Herald reported.

In the Land Down Under, Westpac, Australia New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and the National Bank of Australia (NAB) are collectively known as the Big 4 because they dominate the country's banking system. But side-by-side with global banks, the 4 lenders are just the Small 4.

In a first in Melbourne's history, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay attended on Sunday the Australian state's Gay Pride March with 40,000 people. He said he showed up at the parade to express support for gays who are important part of the Victorian community.

Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum disclosed on Monday that Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez has changed his mind and is interested in fighting eight-division title holder Manny Pacquiao. But he has one condition - that the Filipino congressman from Sarangani province beat Timothy Bradley and gain back the WBO welterweight belt.

Locals stocks finished largely unchanged, with holidays across the region keeping a cap on trading volumes. This week, the highlight locally is likely to be the Reserve Bank's statement tomorrow and a monthly jobs report in the U.S. on Friday.

The February reporting season has started and is set to showcase how Australian companies have fared over the first half of the financial year.

User of Apple phones are warned not to place their units inside the back pockets of the pants while seated. Otherwise, you run the risk of setting your pants on fire and burning your butt like than man from Finland or a female student in the U.S.

With Chinese Luna New Year well underway and the year of the horse being welcomed in, some may have missed the official China PMI print for December on Saturday which came in a tick under estimates at 50.5.

In US economic news, personal income was flat in December (forecast +0.2%) while spending rose 0.4% (forecast +0.2%). The Chicago purchasing managers index eased from 60.8 to 59.6 in January (forecast 59.0). US consumer sentiment rose from a preliminary reading of 80.4 in January to a final reading of 81.2 but was down from 82.5 in December. The employment cost index rose 0.5% in the December quarter.

Microsoft Store just cut the prices of three tablets running on Windows 8.1 because of poor sales. As a result, the 32GB Dell Venue Pro's price is now down to $229 from $299, while the 32GB Lenovo Miix 2 and Toshiba Encore's price tag is lowered to $249, also from $299.

More males are becoming victim of violent sexual assaults. According to the New Zealand Police, in the past five years, the number of such type of sex assaults have jumped to 710 from 480.

While the Auckland Police and the Auckland Medical Office of Health has not objected to the application by the Chow brothers for the renewal of the licence of their Penthouse Club and adjoining brothel Galaxy Club and application for a new licence of strip bar Mermaids and brothel Splash Club, a rival company tried to block the applications.

Neighbours Down Under Australia and New Zealand are currently studies in contrast, insofar as their economies are concerned.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority okayed plans to dump 3 million cubic metres of dredge spoil from the Abbott Point coal terminal expansion into the Great Barrier Reef. Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the plan in January for the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation to dredge the harbour at Abbott Point.

The Australian share market finished slightly higher today, but still lost ground over the week as investors around the globe remained concerned about emerging markets.

The last 12 hours have seen volatility subside relative to the previous day. European and US stock indices finished higher and the atmosphere in currency markets, particularly for emerging markets was stabilising. Notwithstanding the improved general tone sellers has the edge at the open of the local session, although the losses were contained to a modest size.