Yesterday the Australian shares ended modestly higher despite a strong lead overseas. The market in late trading gave up some of its early gains as investors started to pocket their profits in recent rallies. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 0.8%, or 29.7 points, at 3580, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 1%, or 34.2 points, at 3517.3. Today resource stocks may decline after metals prices fell.
Yesterday the Asian major bourses posted losses, driven by negative sentiment caused in large part by doubts over the financial rescue package in the US and profit-taking. The US President Barack Obama was sending Congress a budget that projects the government's deficit for this year will soar to US$1.75 trillion, reflecting efforts to pull the nation out of a deep recession and a severe financial crisis.
Yesterday Australian shares plunged sharply, dragged by financial stocks as investors feared the UK banks might need to raise more funds. The unfavorable corporate earnings results also weighed down the market. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 1.5%, or 52.6 points, to 3464.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 1.4%, or 49.1 points, to 3412.2.
Last Friday Australian shares ended higher, capping a winning week after reports that the US government was working on a program to help troubled US home owners. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 rose 44.8 points, or 1.27 per cent, at 3,559.1, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 38.2 points, or 1.1 per cent to 3,496.7. The Obama administration's seeking to lower expectations of a quick fix to the financial crisis and the coming earnings reports may send the market to a negative territory.
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 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.
Yesterday the Australian shares ended flat as weaker Commonwealth Bank and energy stocks weighed on the market. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 10.6 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 3,581.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 6.7 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 3,521.7. It could be fairly quiet during the pre-Christmas sessions. But the local market may be hit by the dropping commodities prices and the fears on US auto industry as US government has admitted that orderly bankruptcy can be one of the options for the troubled automakers.
