Berkshire Hathaway has confirmed it loaded up on more shares of Apple in the three months to June, adding around 13 million and confirming that it is now the single largest holding in a portfolio worth more than $US195 billion at the end of the second quarter, and more than $US200 billion now.

No sign of any pullback by big global investors, more a redirection of focus to America in the latest Bank America Merrill Lynch (BAML) survey of big global investors.

First it was the labour market which has been showing signs of slowing levels of activity and growth in 2018, now its the monthly survey from the National Australia Bank is starting to throw up hints that the solid level of activity across most of the economy is ageing.

More signs that business activity in China is weaker with lower than expected readings for July on investment and retail sales, while industrial output remains moderate.

The Australian June full and half earnings season ramps up this week with 43 major companies reporting with attention to focus on the figures from Telstra, CSL and Fairfax.

Wall Street closed solidly lower on Friday, joining a global equity market selloff, as the mounting currency crisis in Turkey raised the alarm for possible problems for other markets especially in Europe.

Oil prices settled higher Friday as a forecast for rising global crude demand, and supply boosts from Russia offset growing concerns about trade tensions and problems in Turkey impacting European and other economies.

Despite a weak global lead on Friday, ASX 200 futures managed to rise 11 points or 0.2% which points to a positive start to trade this morning.

While the stronger US dollar and worries about the stability of the Turkish economy and currency dominated markets last week – copper was again on notice because of growing concerns about more industrial action at BHP’s Escondida mine in Chile we warned about last week.

The economy, earnings and events in Turkey look like dominating markets here and offshore this week.

The Trump bump and all that free publicity from the volatile US President continues to payoff for the New York Times Co, enabling it to report a surprise second half profit of $US24 million (up from $US15.6 million a year ago) and add 109,000 new subscribers in the three months (68,000 of which were for the newspaper only).

Inflation in China edged higher last month as the price of non-food items rose while growth in producer prices slowed for the first time since March.

The Reserve Bank fo New Zealand says it will keep its official cash rate at its current “expansionary level” of 1.75% for “a considerable period to contribute to maximising sustainable employment, and maintaining low and stable inflation.” And that period could be another two years.

A solid set of trade figures from China for July with some small signs that the impact of the trade war with the US is having an impact – but not very much.