Wesfarmers Limited

Yesterday the Australian shares closed slightly lower as falls in financial stocks overshadowed the gains in big miners. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 0.1%, or 5.4 points, at 3747.5, while the broad-market All Ordinaries index fell 0.1%, or 4 points, at 3693.9.

Australian share closed at their five-year low point. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 0.1%, or 4.1 points, at 3327.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index also fell 0.1%, or 3.5 points, at 3281.5.

Yesterday the Australian shares fell 1.2 per cent after the weak lead from Wall Street last week. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 dropped 42.2 points, or 1.2%, at 3,516.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 35.4 points, or 1%, to 3461.3. Lacking lead from the US, the market attention will be on recent Chinese and Japanese takeover bids for the Australian companies and a string of corporate results.

Yesterday, Australian shares rose more than 1%, led by some banks and miners. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 share index closed up 44 points, or 1.3%, to 3,486.8, and the broader All Ordinaries index rose 37.1 points, or 1.1%, to 3,431.9.

Yesterday the Australian stock market ended the day lower, led by financial stocks, on renewed worries about banking industry worldwide. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 1%, or 33.8 points, at 3442.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index was lower by 0.9%, or 30.2 points, at 3394.8. Regulator ASIC's move to extend a ban on covered short-selling of financial securities would give a positive lead to the banking industry.

Australian shares yesterday closed higher after the lift of commodities prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 38.4 points, or 1.08 per cent, at 3,589.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index advanced 36.1 points, or 1.03 per cent, to 3,531 after a positive lead from Wall Street on Friday.

Yesterday the Australian stock market closed nearly 1% higher with gains in banking and resource sectors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended up 32.4 points, or 0.9%, at 3687 and the broader All Ordinaries index was up 30.4 points, or 0.9%, at 3624.3. Earlier, the market had sunk into negative territory. Today's focus will be the official unemployment figures for December 2008 which are expected to rise on the deepened credit crisis.

Yesterday the Australian share market ended lower, led by energy and mining stocks and a fall on a dismal earnings season in the US. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 0.8%, or 28.7 points, at 3654.6, while the broader All Ordinaries index slid 0.8%, or 30.1 points, to 3593.9. After some rise at the start of the year, the market may see more volatility due to the renewed bleak global outlook.

Yesterday, Australian shares slumped to their lowest close since October 8, 2004. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 share index plummeted 5.9% to 3697.3. The broader All Ordinaries index fell 211.2 points, or 5.44 per cent, to 3,672.4, its weakest close since October 1, 2004. Analysts said although local stocks may rebound after rise in US stocks and oil price, markets worldwide still have a significant unsettling economic outlook.

Overnight Wall Street closed with a 2.1 per cent gain, qualifying it as one of the quietest sessions in October. As the recent Australian share market has never made consecutive gains more than two days, analysts speculate a flat market today. Investors may take the breather as they did and wait until the expected RBA rate cut next Tuesday to move back into the market.