ABN Newswire stocks to watch today include: Atlas Iron Limited (ASX:AGO), Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) (PINK:GALXF), Carpentaria Exploration Limited (ASX:CAP), Brickworks Limited (ASX:BKW), iSOFT Group Limited (ASX:ISF), Iron Road Limited (ASX:IRD), and Havilah Resources NL (ASX:HAV).
Brickworks Limited (ASX:BKW) today announced plans to expand its Wollert-based brick factory, increasing the capacity to 170 million standard brick equivalents (SBE) up from its design capacity of 85 million SBE. The expanded factory will set new productivity and energy efficiency benchmarks in Australia.
The Australian sharemarket fell on Thursday as investors digested some mixed earnings results. Investors also managed to take profit for the market after two days gains. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index lost 13 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 4654.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index gave up 12.9 points, or 0.28 per cent to 4673.9.
Most Asian markets fell Thursday as investors took profit from recent rallies. Resources shares declined across the region after news that International Monetary Fund plans to sell 191.3 metric tons of gold on open markets. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.5 per cent and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4 per cent. However, Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.3 per cent while the Bank of Japan left its interest rate at 0.1%. China, Taiwan and Vietnam markets remained closing on Friday.
Asian markets rallied Wednesday led by resources shares. Japan's Nikkei surged 2.7 per cent while Japanese exporters were helped by the weaker yen. Hong Kong market rose 1.3 per cent led by Chinese banks, as investors digested the Chinese government's decision before the Lunar New Year holiday to increase bank reserve requirement. Singapore also resumed trading on Wednesday and posted a 1.3 per cent gain. Today Shanghai and Taiwan markets remained closed.
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.
The Australian shares were stronger after an unexpectedly improved employment data. The market was also helped by a rise in Rio Tinto shares on expectation that it would follow its BHP Billiton in reporting upbeat earnings. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed 40.9 points, or 0.91 per cent higher, at 4554.3 points while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 42.8 points, or 0.94 per cent, to 4575.8 points.
