2010/02/22 09:30 - Australian shares and Asian markets Friday were down on the US Federal Reserve's decision to raise the discount rate for the first time since the financial crisis. NAB's flat cash earnings result also weighed on the Australian shares. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index declined 19.8 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 4635.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index slid 17.6 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4656.3. The local market gained 2 per cent for the week.
2010/02/17 09:30 - The Australian sharemarket closed higher Tuesday. Financial stocks were boosted as Westpac's strong earnings result provided a positive sign for the banking sector and Australia's economy. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 22.3 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 4567.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 20.4 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4590.8.
2010/02/15 15:10 - In Asia, China's unexpected announcement that it will increase the reserve-requirement ratio would fuel worries over the global economy recovery, but thin trading is expected today as most markets including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore will be closed for Lunar New Year holiday. Japan's exporters will be supported by weaker yen. Japan's gross domestic product data, released by the Cabinet Office on Monday, showed that the country's economy grew at a faster than expected pace in the October-December quarter.
2010/02/12 13:30 - Asian markets were higher Thursday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.9 per cent and South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.8 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite closed flat with thin trade ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year, despite a slower than CPI growth eased worries of rate increase.
2010/02/11 09:30 - Australian shares gave up early gains after disappointing trade numbers from China raised concerns that Chinese economy is cooling. The market closed slightly higher as earnings reports from market heavyweights BHP Billiton and Commonwealth Bank helped the rise. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 8.3 points higher, or 0.2 per cent, at 4513.4. The broader All Ordinaries index rose 12.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 4533.
2010/02/03 13:30 - Asian shares were lifted on Tuesday after strong U.S. manufacturing data. Japan's Nikkei index ended 1.63 percent higher, after Toyota's plans to fix millions of vehicles equipped with faulty accelerators in North America and Europe. Australian shares climbed as metals prices rose, but Australian dollar was pulled down by RBA's unexpected decision to keep interest rate unchanged.
2010/01/29 09:30 - The Australian share market Thursday broke its losing streak. The market was boosted by US President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address to Congress. Mr. Obama said jobs must be the number one priority in 2010 and offered proposals for financial reform, education, health care reform, government spending, national security and more. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 28.7 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 4673.3, while the broader All Ordinaries lifted 0.59 per cent to 4697.7.
2010/01/28 13:30 - Wall Street stocks posted gains on Wednesday. The market pared early losses in late trade as Federal Reserve kept its stimulative monetary policy unchanged and said it would hold interest rate at "exceptionally low" level for an extended period to support the economic recovery.
2010/01/27 13:30 - U.S. stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday, giving up early gains boosted by consumer confidence data and strong earnings from Apple. Investors remained cautious as there were continued concerns over bank regulation plans.
2010/01/21 13:45 - Wall Street slumped sharply on Thursday after disappointing earnings reports and news of China's further tightening bank lending. The US dollar soared to one month high against a basket of currencies while investors shifted to haven.
2010/01/12 09:30 - Yesterday the Australian sharemarket gained as the Chinese government released a report showing that China's exports jumped 17.7 per cent in December. The Australian dollar was stronger on Monday on the positive Chinese trade data and improved domestic jobs data. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index advanced 38.6 points, or 0.8 per cent, at 4950.7, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 39 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 4981.2.
2010/01/07 09:30 - Australian stocks ended flat on Wednesday as shares gave up early gains in the afternoon dragged by banks. Miners advanced as investors were optimistic about the iron ore prices. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 1.6 points at 4925.9 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index lifted 7.7 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 4947.2 points.
2010/01/06 13:30 - Wall Street shares closed mixed as investors took a breather after the new year's rally and turned cautious ahead of the payroll and employment data due on Friday. Yesterday Asian shares ended mostly higher following the good performance in Wall Street. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 2.1 per cent higher while Shanghai Composite added 1.2 per cent.
2009/12/21 09:30 - The Australian share market closed lower on Friday hit by National Australia Bank and Telstra. At close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 19.8 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 4650.5 while the broader All Ordinaries lost 17.7 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 4671.9. The Australian dollar fell to a fresh 10-week low on Friday and closed at US$0.8888.
2009/12/14 13:30 - Asian shares mostly opened flat this morning. Wall Street closed higher on Friday after the reports of consumer sector lifted investor confidence. The data also fuelled the expectations the US interest rates could hike soon. British and European shares also gained at after strong Chinese growth data.
2009/12/09 09:30 - The Australian sharemarket closed marginally lower in light trading yesterday as banks were down on concerns that bad debts could increase after interest rate rise. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index gave up 5.9 points, or 0.13 per cent, at 4670.60, while the broader All Ordinaries lost 0.19 per cent to 4686.40 points.
2009/12/07 18:20 - Australian market Monday ended lower in a thin trade led by resources stocks, as commodities prices dropped on a sharp rise in US dollar. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 25.7 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 4676.5, while the broader All Ordinaries lost 26 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 4695.2.
2009/12/04 16:01 - Most Asian stock markets were lower Friday due to some profit taking selling before the release of US non-farm payrolls data.
2009/12/04 13:00 - US shares fell on Thursday as the services sector index declined unexpectedly in November. The contraction also hurt sentiment ahead of the release of unemployment figure.
2009/12/02 13:00 - US stocks Wednesday climbed to near the peak of the year after Dubai's debt restructuring plan. The market was also supported by the optimism about the upcoming holiday shopping season while retailers Staples and Guess saw positive earnings in third quarter and provided guidance above market expectations.
2009/12/01 15:48 - Asian shares were mostly steady on Tuesday after significant rebounds in the previous trading session. Yesterday the Dow index concluded the last trading day of November in positive territory. It was its fifth consecutive monthly gain, despite a bad news from Dubai.
2009/11/30 17:05 - Asian stock markets mostly jumped on Monday. Financial stocks were rebounding in Australia, Korea and Japan on hopes the extent of the impact of the Dubai crisis would be limited. The United Arab Emirates central bank said Sunday it "stands behind" local lenders.
2009/11/30 13:00 - Dow Jones Industrial Average Friday retreated about 1.5 per cent on concerns over the problem of Dubai World. But European shares reversed earlier sharp losses due to some bargain hunting buying.
2009/11/26 16:38 - Asian stocks markets broadly dropped on Thursday despite Wall Street posted a solid gain overnight. Tokyo shares opened lower as the stronger yen continued to dampen investors' sentiment. In Hong Kong market, China Minsheng Banking Corp failed to lift the Hang Seng Index in its debut. Shanghai and Seoul shares also declined as their Asian peers.
2009/11/24 15:46 - Asian markets mostly opened higher this morning, but reversed early gains after profit taking selling. Tokyo market fell in a choppy trade despite a positive support from Wall Street. This is largely due to a stronger yen and worries over some corporate financing plans. Korean market was down as foreign investors continued to offload Seoul stocks.
2009/11/24 13:00 - US stocks posted a strong gain overnight boosted by better-than-expected home sales. Existing-home sales increased by 10.1 per cent to a 6.1 million annual rate, from 5.54 million in September, the National Association of Realtors said. The US dollar was weaker on Monday on expectations that the interest rate would remain at near zero.
2009/11/23 15:16 - Asian stock markets shrugged off the losses on Wall Street and mostly opened higher on Monday.
2009/11/20 13:00 - US stocks fell for the second day after a downgrade of technology companies such as Intel. Energy and materials shares also showed losses as commodities prices tumbled.
2009/11/18 13:00 - Wall Street closed slightly higher overnight on a round of buying in energy and materials companies. But more stocks fell than rose as retailers such as Target and Home Depot's disappointing holiday spending outlooks raised concerns over the strength of recovery.
2009/11/16 17:20 - Asian share markets broadly opened in positive territory. Japan's Nikkei was buoyed by the latest data showing that Japan's economy grew 1.2 per cent in July-September from the previous quarter, exceeding market expectations.
2009/11/13 15:57 - Asian stock markets were broadly lower Friday following the weakness in Wall Street. Chinese shares also fell on profit taking, but airline equities rose across the board on a new pricing mechanism of fuel surcharge to take effect this weekend.
2009/11/10 13:00 - US stocks overnight closed at a new high for the year as the G20 finance ministers and central bankers pledged to keep stimulus measures until a recovery was certain. Dow jumped more than 200 points for the session, with 29 of the index's 30 components finished in the green.
2009/11/09 18:37 - Insto's Foreign Exchange Conference 2009 will be held at Sydney's Westin Hotel on Tuesday 10th of November. Registration is free for all institutional funds and corporate representatives along with all subscribers to Insto.
2009/11/09 13:00 - Wall Street posted a small gain on Friday despite the Labour Department report showed the US unemployment rate broke above 10 per cent in October, up from 9.8 per cent in September. But the number of jobs lost narrowed to the lowest level in more than a year.
2009/10/14 13:00 - US stocks closed mixed overnight as investors took profit ahead of the wave of corporate earnings offset the news of an acquisition in technology sector. Dow index ended slightly lower while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was up on Cisco's deal to purchase Starent Networks.
2009/10/09 13:00 - Overnight the US stocks closed higher on the positive Alcoa earnings and better-than-expected weekly jobless claims and consumer spending. Investors were also encouraged by the US retailers' first same-store sales gains in more than a year.
2009/10/08 13:00 - Wall Street closed flat yesterday after the market rallied for two days. Traders turned cautious before the third quarter earnings kick off. Alcoa (NYSE:AA), the first company to unveil its earnings, posted a better-than-expected result with third quarter net income of US$77 million, after three consecutive quarters of losses.
2009/09/30 13:00 - Wall Street closed lower overnight after American consumer confidence reading in September dropped unexpectedly. The weakness in US technology stocks, which had been a leader for much of Wall Street's six-month rally, yesterday led a fall in the market. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dipped in September to 53.1 from 54.5 in August as people worries about job market.
2009/09/28 15:00 - ANZ (ASX:ANZ) bank today officially opened its first rural bank in western China, making it the first Australian bank to enter China's rural market.
2009/09/25 15:10 - ING Group (NYSE:ING) said that it has reached an agreement to sell its life insurance and wealth management venture in Australia and New Zealand to ANZ Banking Group, its joint venture partner.
Australian Economy