Shares in Santos dropped 8.4% on Wednesday after the oil and gas producer rejected a US$10.9bn takeover offer from Harbour Energy, and terminated talks with the US private equity firm. The local market declined for a fifth straight session.

The ban on U.S purchasing of Venezuelan debt has plummeted oil production and put an upward pressure on oil prices. Cosmetics group BWX up by 40% on the back of a takeover bid.

The ASX 200 is up 0.1% in early trade, as investors overcome a softer start to the week. Losses in financials & miners held the market back early on but strength in healthcare and utilities has lifted the market a touch higher towards lunch.

The local sharemarket has made a lacklustre start to the new trading week, finishing Monday’s session flat. Gains from the Healthcare and Utilities sectors were offset by losses in the Telco, Materials and Financial sectors.

US sharemarkets fell on Thursday on doubts about whether the US and China would resolve their trade issues.

US sharemarkets rose on Wednesday After trading in a 128 point range, the Dow Jones closed higher by 62.5 points or 0.3%. The S&P 500 index rose by 0.4% and the Nasdaq index rose by almost 47 points or 0.6%.

The local sharemarket is improving, helped by gains in the financial, healthcare and energy sectors. The ASX 200 is up 23 points or 0.4% to 6,121.

US sharemarkets fell by around 0.8% on Tuesday, pressured by fears of higher inflation. The Dow Jones closed lower by 193 points or 0.8%. The S&P 500 index fell by 0.7% and the Nasdaq index fell by almost 60 points or 0.8%

The technology sector made a significant improvement today thanks to Afterpay’s launch in the U.S. in collaboration with Urban Outfitters. Banks were generally higher today with the exception of NAB going ex-dividend closing the day down by ~3.41%.

NAB traded ex-dividend today for its $0.99/share interim dividend. Telecom stocks are the leading decline after Telstra’s earnings downgrade announcements. Technology stocks are most improved as a result of Afterpay launching in the U.S.

Telstra shares dropped 5% on Monday after the telco warned its full year earnings would be at the lower end of its guidance range. The local sharemarket did manage to finish firmer though, helped by gains from the energy, mining & healthcare stocks.

The local sharemarket is edging higher on Monday, however, losses from ANZ & Macquarie Group – which are trading ex-dividend – are weighing on the market. Telstra shares are also under pressure following a profit warning.

The local market is being helped by a strong lead from Wall Street overnight, where investors were comforted by tame inflation data. The ASX 200 is up 0.3% to 6,135.

US markets posted firm gains after investors were comforted by tame inflation data. After being up 252 points, the Dow Jones closed higher by 197 points or 0.8%. The S&P 500 index rose by 0.9% and the Nasdaq index lifted by 65 points or 1.0%.

The ASX 200 is being buoyed by a surge in energy stocks after oil prices hit fresh 3.5 year highs overnight. Healthcare, banks and miners are also trading higher, while a 2% fall in the Telco sector is weighing on the market.

The news of infrastructure spending from the recent federal budget release left the materials sector on a positive end to the day. Energy stocks were up after the US pulled out of the nuclear treaty with Iran.

The ASX 200 has finished the session up 0.10% or 7 points to 6,091, managing to finish in positive territory thanks to gains in the financial and healthcare sectors.

The local sharemarket has made a positive start to the week, with the ASX 200 up 0.5%. Almost all sectors are firmer, with energy, consumer-related stocks leading the gains.

The local sharemarket has been buoyed by gains from energy and mining stocks on Monday. The ASX 200 closed up 21 points or 0.4% to 6,084 adding to last week’s stellar 1.85% improvement.

The ASX 200 is under pressure on Friday, held back by falls in the financial and energy sectors. The index is down 0.3% – breaking a five-session rally.

The ASX 200 has finished higher for a fifth straight session on Thursday with the index closing at a three month high of 6,101.

The recent market rally has continued for a fifth session, with every sector improving on Thursday. The ASX 200 is up 51 points or 0.9% to 6,101.

The local sharemarket has edged higher again on Wednesday with almost all sectors gaining ground. The ASX 200 finished up 35 points or 0.6% to 6,050.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.5% for the 21st consecutive month, resulting in real estate stocks being the most improved sector. ANZ shares lifted over 2% after reporting their first half results.

Local shares added to yesterday’s gains with the ASX 200 ahead by 0.5% at lunch. Property and oil names are the most improved, while Healthcare stocks are leading the declines. ANZ shares are higher by more than 1% after reporting first half results.

The ASX 200 jumped 3.9% in April, recording its best monthly improvement since October last year. The market was buoyed by a rally in the Energy and Materials sectors over the month.

The financial sector is leading the gains on Monday, up 0.9%. That’s helping the local sharemarket firm, with the ASX 200 up 13 points or 0.2% to 5,967. So far in April, the index has risen 3.7%

The local sharemarket has climbed 0.7% on Friday, helped by a rebound in the financial sector this afternoon. Over the holiday-shortened week, the ASX 200 Index rose 1.45%.

The local sharemarket failed to hang on to early gains, held down by heavy falls in the financial sector. The ASX 200 slipped 9 points or 0.2% to 5,912.

Almost all sectors are trading higher on Tuesday, helping the ASX 200 rise 0.5% or 26 points to 5,912. The Materials sector is the lone decliner, weighed down by lower metals prices.

The buying accelerated in late trade, with most sectors enjoying broad-based gains. The ASX 200 closed up 35 points or 0.6% to 5,921.

The ASX 200 has finished the session up 0.3%, boosted by improvements in the financial, materials and telco sectors.

The Australian sharemarket has kicked off the week in positive territory, shrugging off a negative lead from Wall Street. The ASX 200 is up 0.3%, supported by strong gains from the banks and miners.

US sharemarkets remained volatile on Monday with technology stocks faring the worst. Shares in Amazon fell by 5.2% after President Trump issued more negative tweets.

The ASX 200 has fallen 3.8% so far in March and is on track to record its worthy monthly decline since May 2017. At lunch, the ASX 200 is unchanged at 5,788.

US sharemarkets remained volatile on Wednesday. Investors weighed the potential for tighter regulations on technology stocks, mulled firmer economic data and remained fearful about a trade war between the US and China. At the close of trade.

The ASX 200 has slumped 4.25% in March, its worst monthly performance since January 2016. Over the past three months, the index is down 5%.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday as technology shares weighed on the broader market. Facebook shares fell by 4.9% on a broker downgrade by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. CEO Mark Zuckerberg will reportedly testify in front of US Congress.

The ASX 200 gave up yesterday’s gains, closing down 0.7% or 42 points to 5,789. The index was weighed down by heavy falls in the materials and financial sectors.

The local sharemarket is under pressure on Wednesday, following heavy falls on Wall Street overnight. The ASX 200 is down 0.5% or 29 points to 5,803.