Commodities; Weak US Dollar Lifts Gold, Silver, Oil, Copper
Thanks to the stronger US dollar, commodities enjoyed a generally firmer day on Friday.
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Feature: Wall Of Worries Returns
The AMP’s chief economist, Dr Shane Oliver wonders if we are back in 2010.
Read MoreThe Economy: Trading Partners To Do Well
There’s a strong message for Australia and investors from the latest half yearly review of the world economy from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
Read MoreUpdates: GNC Profit Surges, Perpetual’s Cost Cuts & Higher Div
Shares in grain exporter and bulk handler GrainCorp jumped more than 10% at one stage yesterday after it reported a 66% surge in half year profit to $88 million.
Read MoreThe Economy: Capex Boom Still Growing
Do you want the bad news, or the good news about the latest private investment figures?
Read MoreUpdates: Iluka Says Cash Return Coming
Shareholders in mineral sands producer Iluka Resources can hang around for the rest of the year in the knowledge that could very well get a New Year present of a capital return in 20912.
Read MoreResults: Programmed Promises More
Programmed Maintenance Services went against the trend and rose yesterday despite reporting a 58% drop in annual profit, including one off items.
Read MoreJapan: Trade Deficit, But More Signs Of Improvement
As expected Japan’s trade surplus disappeared in April as the full impact of the lost production from the March 11 quake, tsunami and the subsequent nuclear crisis at Fukushima hit the economy hard.
Read MoreRetail: The Reject Shop Cuts Profit, Shares Surge
It was quite a reaction from investors yesterday to the update from The Reject Shop which confirmed that the company would have a terrible second half result, thanks to the Brisbane area floods.
Read MoreUpdates: Westfield Upbeat, Market Cautious, US Sale Coming
Retail property giant Westfield Group said Wednesday that the "rapid and significant" rise in the value of the Australian dollar has impacted the value of reported foreign earnings.
Read MoreResults: Thorn Does Well From Renting
Thorn Group Ltd is a retailer, of sorts.
Read MoreResults: Reckon, Ruralco, HLG
Shares in accounting software provider Reckon Ltd fell 3% yesterday after the company’s annual meeting heard the company is seeing improved business conditions in 2011 as demand for its products recovers.
Read MoreResults: Campbell Earnings, Divi Up, Shares Down
As expected Brisbane-based testing services group Campbell Brothers Ltd has produced a cracker of a full year result, and a very tasty final dividend.
Read MoreChina: Goldman Upbeat On Commodities, Realistic On China
Gee, what’s Goldman Sachs on about?
Read MoreResources: Wesfarmers Cuts Curragh Forecast, Again
The aftermath of the big wet in the central Queensland coal fields has again forced Wesfarmers to take the knife to its sales forecast for its rich Curragh coking coal mine.
Read MoreChina: Concentrate On The Drought, Not Manufacturing
Investors would do better to worry about the continuing drought in central and southern China than another dip in a key manufacturing index for May.
Read MoreOil: Woodside’s Pluto Successes Grow
For a while yesterday morning, Woodside Petroleum shares were the only major stock in green in the big sell-off after it surprised the market with a big gas discovery off the northwestern WA coast.
Read MoreResults: Elders Narrows Loss, But Cuts Full Year Estimate
It’s hard to know what hurt the Elders share price the most yesterday, the downgrade of the outlook or the general sell-off across the market, led by banks.
Read MoreEuropean Fears 2: Asian Markets Down Sharply
Markets across Asia sold off yesterday with financial and big miners taking a whack from nervous investors.
Read MoreEuropean Fears 1: Sell Off Around The Globe Continues
Markets across the globe racked up big losses yesterday and overnight.
Read MoreEurope: Italy’s Credit Outlook Cut After Greece’s Rating Slashed
Did we see the eurozone financial crisis step up a notch late on Saturday?
Read MoreMarkets: Wariness, Concern Growing
US stocks closed broadly lower for a third straight week last on emerging signs that US consumer demand may be weakening.
Read MoreSteel, Global, Chinese Output Still Solid
Global and more importantly, Chinese steel production continues to run at near record pace.
Read MoreCommodities: Gold, Oil, Copper, Grains Gain
New York gold futures regained the $US1,500-an-ounce mark on Friday for the first time in a week thanks to those renewed fears about Greece’s financial state and differences in Europe over its new rescue.
Read MoreDIARY: Australian Investment, US GDP, Japan’s Trade
This week we start the run up to the national accounts for the March quarter in Australia to be released next week which are likely to show negative growth in the March quarter, thanks to the impact of flooding in Queensland and Victoria in January and February.
Read MoreHousing: The Economy’s Weak Point
The AMP’s chief economist, Dr Shane Oliver says a June rate hike by the Reserve Bank would be dangerous with house prices soft, consumer spending weak and low levels of confidence regarding family finances. Households are already struggling and these are good reasons for the RBA to tread cautiously.
Read MoreJapan: In Recession And A Bit More Pain To Come
As expected, the Japanese economy fell into recession in the first quarter when economic growth contracted thanks to the devastating impact of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and then the Fukushima nuclear crisis that still hasn’t been controlled, more than two months later.
Read MoreNZ: Deficit, Borrowing Up, But Budget Better Than Expected
New Zealand has staved off an immediate credit rating downgrade by producing a budget which forecasts a return to surplus one year earlier than previous forecast, despite the multi-billion dollar cost of the September 4 and February 22 quakes which badly damaged Christchurch.
Read MoreUpdates: Brambles Confident, James Hardie Wary
A surprisingly upbeat update from pallets supplier and documents manager Brambles Ltd yesterday with the company confident of making guidance, despite tough times in some of its key markets in the US, Australia and Europe.
Read MoreThe Economy: Wages, Confidence Ease
Wages growth eased a touch in the March quarter and consumer confidence dipped to an 11 month low, according to figures out yesterday, so what will the Reserve Bank say or do?
Read MoreChanges: Leighton Restructures
For the second time this week Leighton Holdings has hit the headlines, this time with news of a restructure of its international operations.
Read MoreAGMs: OZ Minerals Confident About Copper
Despite recent weakness in copper prices, OZ Minerals remains confident about the metal’s prospects.
Read MoreBanks: Moody’s Cuts Big Four Ratings
Don’t expect the downgrade by Moody’s of Australia’s four largest banks to have any impact.
Read MoreAGMs: Adelaide Brighton Sees Flat Year
With housing and construction on the east coast weak (but the mining industry growing quickly, with more to come), cement and lime manufacturer Adelaide Brighton isn’t looking to a breakout year.
Read MoreUpdates: Mirvac, Macarthur Coal
The market was hardly overwhelmed by the third quarter update from property developer and shopping centre operator Mirvac Group.
Read MoreDeals: Fairfax Looking To Sell Radio Stations
Fairfax Media shares didn’t react yesterday to the much tipped move by the company to explore the possible sale of its radio stations.
Read MoreRate: RBA Keeps Finger On Trigger
We got the predictable analysis yesterday of the minutes of the latest Reserve Bank board meeting, but little insight.
Read MoreUpdates: Good News From Hardie
The strong rise Friday and Monday in James Hardie Industries shares was explained yesterday with a statement that outlined significant capital management changes, including a buyback and a return to dividends, and a cut in the contribution to the Australian asbestos compensation fund next year.
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