The ASX 200 is down by just 0.8%, bouncing off a low of 2.3% earlier this morning. The market has shed close to 6% so far this week partly on volatile oil prices and sluggish economic data.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday as the turmoil in the crude oil market and poor company earnings results dented market sentiment. The energy sector (-1.7%) declined for the seventh time in eight sessions as oil prices plummeted.

Not surprisingly, losses were rather broad based as investors receive a clearer picture in terms of the economic hit from the health crisis that is Covid-19. Every sector ended in negative territory.

A record decline in energy prices overnight weighs on market sentiment as investors consider the markedly reduced prospects for economic activity.

US sharemarkets fell on Monday as crude oil prices plunged, while investors turned cautious over what is expected to be a disappointing week for earnings and economic data.

The ASX 200 was softer for most of the session but saw some heavy selling in the last 30 mins of the session to close at the lows of the day. The index ended down 134.5 points or 2.45% to 5,353 and suffering its largest daily decline since March 27.

Local shares retreated in early trade on Monday driven by falling US futures in after-hours trade. Energy names led the declines, reflecting a more than 20% in US oil futures.

European share markets closed firmer on Friday, the seventh gain in eight sessions. Investors were encouraged by US President Trump’s plans to reopen the US economy. Sentiment was also buoyed after US drug maker Gilead Sciences said it was making progress in developing a virus vaccine.

US sharemarkets ended firmer on Thursday. Shares in Boeing fell 8.0% and weighed on the Dow Jones. Shares in the plane maker fell as rival Airbus said it was examining requests to defer deliveries in response to weak travel demand.

The Aussie market has recorded back to back losses with the ASX 200 closing 50 points or 0.9% weaker at 5416.

The Australian sharemarket fell in early trade on Thursday, reflecting losses on Wall St overnight – although a surprise lift in jobs growth in March helped trim the earlier weakness.

US sharemarkets fell on Wednesday. The energy sector fell 4.7% with the bank sub-sector down 5.9%. Shares in Bank of America fell 6.5% and Citigroup lost 5.6% after reporting earnings results. The Dow Jones index closed lower by 445 points or 1.9% after being down 716 points. The S&P500 index fell by 2.2% and the Nasdaq index lost 123 points or 1.4%.

The Aussie market did get off to a bright start following solid gains on Wall Street but was unable to maintain that momentum past the first hour of trade. Investors continue to digest positive news of a slowdown in the infection rate of COVID-19 in Australia and hot spots around the globe while also considering the economic impact that comes with the forced shutdown of economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is now forecasting a sharp downturn in 2020, the worst since the great depression of the 1930’s, but a sharp rebound in 2021.

Local shares retreated on Wednesday after the ASX 200 rallied by more than 5% over the course of recent days. Oil names fell after oil price slumped by 10% overnight – while there was a record fall in consumer sentiment in April.

US shares rose on investor hopes that President Trump could move to ease coronavirus-induced lockdowns. IMF predicted steepest global recession since 1930s.

After a shaky start to the new week, the Aussie market has managed a strong finish to the session, closing near/at the best levels of the day and currently sits at the highest level in a month.

The ASX 200 is trading higher at lunch despite a plunge in business confidence to record lows and predictions that the unemployment rate will rise to 10% next quarter.

US sharemarkets were mixed on Monday as investors weighed the coronavirus outlook ahead of expected disappointing quarterly earnings results due this week.

US sharemarkets rose on Wednesday after US President Trump said Americans might be getting to the top of the “curve” in relation to the virus outbreak. Shares were also boosted by prospects for more fiscal stimulus. Democrats in US Congress said they would back the Trump administration’s request for US$250 billion more in coronavirus aid for small businesses.

The Aussie market continued to swing in choppy trade which saw the ASX 200 trade in a 200 point range between its best and worst levels, eventually closing 45 points or 0.86% lower at 5,206.9 after a big drop in the close. The volatility wasn’t restricted to our market as the Dow Jones gave up a 938 point gain at its best levels to close weaker. Investors globally are trying to deal with the ongoing uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Banks are dragging the ASX lower at lunch as the big lenders reflect on dividend payments in the light of APRA’s recent recommendations.

US sharemarkets edged lower on Tuesday as investors continued to assess developments in the coronavirus outbreak. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he believed the number of virus hospitalisations was reaching a plateau. Boeing (-4.8%) led the Dow Jones index lower. Exxon Mobil (+1.9%) said that it would cut planned capital spending this year by 30% as the coronavirus pandemic reduces energy demand. Despite rising 937 points earlier in the session, the Dow Jones index closed lower by 26 points or 0.1%. The S&P500 index fell by 0.2% and the Nasdaq index fell by 26 points or 0.3%.

The ASX 200 was unable to build on Monday’s improvements as the index faded from a strong open to close 34.5 points or 0.65% lower at 5252.

A swift retreat for banks late morning turned gains to losses for the lenders, in turn weighing on the ASX 200.

US sharemarkets surged on Monday in response to data showing a drop in virus-related deaths in New York City – regarded as the US hot spot for virus cases. All 30 components of the Dow Jones rose. The S&P 500 banking index rose by 8.2% with technology up 8.8% and utilities up 7.9%. The Dow Jones index rose by 1627 points or 7.7%, ending just off session highs. The S&P500 index gained 7.0% and the NASDAQ rose by 540 points or 7.3%.

It’s been an impressive couple of hours of trade considering the US market fell by close to 2% on Friday and data on the American labour market continued to disappoint. We’re also coming off the back of the best weekly performance for our market since December 2011. The ASX 200 rose by 4.65% last week.

The ASX 200 advanced in early trade on Monday with investors encouraged by the moderation in the domestic infection rate in relation to the COVID-19 virus.

US sharemarkets fell on Friday. The only sector to gain was consumer staples, up 0.5%. Energy fell 1.3% despite a higher oil price. Shares in Tesla rose 5.6% after the electric car maker reported deliveries ahead of schedule.

US sharemarkets see-sawed during the Thursday session. Energy shares rallied 9.1% on a record lift in the oil price. Although investors fretted about the health of the US economy with claims for unemployment insurance soaring.

The financials sector was the major drag as the banks fell sharply. This follows concerns that our central bank, the RBA, may look to follow the Bank of England and Reserve Bank of New Zealand in freezing bank dividend payments temporarily,

Aussie shares are back in the red on Thursday, with the ASX 200 index down 132pts or 2.6% to 5,120.2. This follows a 4.4% decline for US equities overnight, as the focus returns to the quick spread of the coronavirus in the US. President Trump warned that the US could face as many as 240,000 deaths from COVID-19 (~4,500 at the moment) and said the country will face a ‘very painful few weeks’.

US sharemarkets fell on Wednesday. Investors are worried about the outlook for the economy. Financials fell 6.0%. Energy stocks fell by 4.6% and airlines and cruise operators continued to fall sharply.

The ASX 200 has rebounded from yesterday’s loss, rallying 181 points or 3.6% to 5258.6, overcoming an afternoon fade to close near the best levels of the day.

All sectors are currently improving on Wednesday. Energy stocks are standing out, lifting by 8.2% after falling more heavily than any other sector in March. A ~60% slump for the oil price from the February highs was to blame.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday as fund managers made portfolio adjustments on the last day of the month and quarter. The Dow Jones index fell by 410 points or 1.8% after trading in a 628 point range. The S&P500 index fell by 1.6% and the Nasdaq lost 74 points or 1.0%. Over the quarter the Dow Jones fell by 23.2% – the largest fall since December quarter 1987 and biggest March quarter decline on record.

The ASX 200 closed the day down 104 points or 2% to 5076, a turnaround of 290 points from its highs where it was up 3.5% at its best levels in early trade.

Aussie shares continue to lift strongly following a strong lead from Wall Street, yesterday’s announcement of a massive $130bn government support package and better than expected data on China’s economy at lunch.

Local shares are set to add to Mondays gains at the start of trade following 3% gains for US stock Indices overnight. US sharemarkets rose for the fourth time in five days.

The ASX 200 surged higher to post a 7% gain on Monday, in the process, delivering a record daily improvement led by strong gains for the big four banks.

Gains from the banks and health stocks are offsetting losses from property stocks and miners.