Woodside Petroleum Limited

The Australian share market yesterday ended stronger despite the negative lead from Wall Street. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 81.7 points, or 2.2 per cent, at 3817.3, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 79.0 points, or 2.1 per cent, to 3800.6. Today the local market could be buoyed by the rising commodities prices.

Yesterday the Australian shares market appeared to be decoupled from Wall Street. The local shares shrugged off the bad lead of US stocks and finished firmer with rising in all sub-sectors, as traders put more of their attention to the local news. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 2%, or 74.8 points, at 3743, while the broader All Ordinaries surged 1.9%, or 68.6 points, at 3695.8.

The Australian market is expected to rise after Easter holiday as metals prices were up overnight. On Thursday the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 52.1 points, or 1.4%, at 3671.6, while the broader All Ordinaries surged 50 points, or 1.4% to 3617.5.

Yesterday, the Australian market finished in positive territory as the Wall Street's good performance this month fueled investors' confidence over a gradual recovery in the US. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 ended the day up 37.3 points, or 1.03 per cent, at 3646.6, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 40.1 points, or 1.13 per cent, to 3586.3.

Asian share markets were bolstered on hopes for China's further stimulus measures, which are speculated to include market-supportive moves. Shanghai Composite Index surged 6.1% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.5%. South Korea's Kospi was up 3.3%. Japanese and Singaporean markets also shrugged off the bad lead from Wall Street, gaining 0.9% and 1% respectively.

The Australian shares ended higher yesterday on the back of some better-than-expected earnings reports. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 35.7 points, or 1.1%, to 3448.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 31.1 points or 0.9% to 3398.

Yesterday the Australian stocks closed lower on all sectors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 lost 51.1 points, or 1.48 per cent, at 3,413.2, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 45.3 points, or 1.33 per cent, to 3,366.9. The local market has fell 4.1% so far this week, and the shares may see a further drop after base metal and oil prices lower.

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.

Yesterday the Australian stock market fell sharply led by falls in Wall Street and the bleak local jobless data. Analysts expect worse to come after the ABS unemployment figure rose from 4.4% to 4.5% as the global economy further deteriorates this year. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 157.5 points, or 4.27 per cent, to 3,529.5 and the broader All Ordinaries index retreated 147.5 points, or 4.07 per cent, to 3,476.8.