After posting its second best improvement of the year on Tuesday, the Aussie market is down heavily at lunch. The ASX 200 is slumping by 0.9% while GDP data fell a touch short of market forecasts.

US sharemarkets were volatile on Tuesday as investors mulled the potential for a trade war. A Bloomberg report quoting a close ally of President Donald Trump said that Trump was open to changes to his proposed tariffs.

The local sharemarket was hit hard on Wednesday following the surprise resignation of President Trump’s top economic advisor who was opposed to US tariffs on steel and aluminium. Three quarters of all companies lost ground.

US sharemarkets rose on Monday as worries about a potential trade war eased. Industrial stocks’ Caterpillar (+3.2%) and HarleyDavidson (+2.3%) traded higher as investors bet that US President Trump would show "flexibility" in his NAFTA negotiations.

Local shares rebounded after four consecutive days of losses. Gains for US and European markets played a part in the improved tone, as concerns in relation to US tariffs eased. Mining, energy and bank names are among the best supported sectors.

Local shares rebounded after four consecutive days of losses. Gains for US and European markets played a part in the improved tone, as concerns in relation to US tariffs eased. Mining, energy and bank names are among the best supported sectors.

US sharemarkets ended mixed on Friday on concerns US tariffs on steel and aluminium would spark a trade war.

The ASX 200 fell for a fourth session as investors react to the tariffs the Trump Administration will apply to aluminium and steel imports. Retail Food Group shares fell as the stock returned from suspension and investors responded to weak earnings.

Local shares are lower with iron miners marked down as participants consider the impact of US steel tariffs. Shares in Retail Food Group (RFG) are down 30% having resumed trade, and announcing a poor earnings result at the end of last week.

Local stocks are losing ground at lunch following a weak lead from Wall Street last night. Comments by President Trump relating to US steel and aluminium import tariffs has put markets in an edgy mood.

US sharemarkets fell on Thursday after President Trump announced new tariffs. In afternoon trade the US President said a 25% tariff will be imposed on foreign steel and 10% tariff on aluminium. The Dow Jones ended lower by 420 points or 1.7%.

The Aussie market struggled, falling by 0.75% on news President Trump plans to introduce tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto fell more than 1% while BlueScope held up, lifting 0.8%.

The ASX 200 is adding to yesterday’s losses in early trade on Thursday after US stocks remained under pressure over night. The property trusts are the only ASX sector to post an improvement. Losses are being led by Energy, Telecoms and Materials.

US sharemarkets fell on Wednesday with retailers and technology stocks doing best. Dow Jones ended near the lows for the day, down by 381 points or 1.5%. The S&P 500 index fell by 1.1%. And the Nasdaq lost 57 points or 0.8%.

The ASX 200 slipped by 0.7% with almost all sectors lower. Woolies, Rio Tinto, Fortescue and Bendigo & Adelaide Bank went ex-dividend while Retail Food Group (RFG) has been suspended from the market after failing to release its profit results.

The Aussie sharemarket is under pressure following substantial falls for US markets overnight. US shares down 1.2% overnight and long-term interest rates higher.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday. Investors digested the testimony delivered by the new Federal Reserve chief. The US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, delivered his first testimony to Congress.

The Australian sharemarket fell by 0.7% on Wednesday partly due to worries US interest rates might lift faster than expected this year and some disappointing economic news in China.

The ASX 200 is on track for a 5th consecutive day of gains on Tuesday. Only 2 sectors lower at lunch – Telecoms and Utilities, while solid gains for the banks are underpinning the broader improvement.

US sharemarkets rose on Monday ahead of US Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s semi-annual testimony to US Congress on Tuesday. Shares of Berkshire Hathaway rose by 3.9% after Warren Buffett said he was "more inclined" to repurchase stock with its US$116B.

Aussie shares rose for a fifth day and hit fresh three week highs on Tuesday despite fading from intraday highs. The ASX 200 rose by 0.25% to 6056.

Local shares have started the last week of February on a high with the ASX 200 25pts or 0.4% higher at lunch. The market has been pushed higher by gains in banks, miners and energy stocks. Wesfarmers weighs as it trades ex-div.

US sharemarkets posted solid gains on Friday. Technology stocks led the way after the US Federal Reserve eased concerns about the potential for more aggressive monetary policy. Shares in Hewlett Packard Enterprise rose by 10.5% after strong report.

The Aussie market has lifted 42pts or 0.7% to 6,042pts to record a fourth straight session of gains. Financials contributed most with the big four banks all higher by at least 1% followed closely by energy stocks. QBE fell 3% on a US$1.25B loss.

Buyers pushed the ASX 200 higher by 0.5% at lunchtime helped by gains for bank, mining and energy stocks. Woolies shares were 2% lower after the grocer reported a miss on earnings.

US blue-chip shares posted solid gains on Thursday with energy and healthcare stocks leading the way. Supporting shares were comments by St Louis Federal Reserve James Bullard who warned against excessive rate hikes by central bankers.

Local shares rallied on Friday thanks to gains from banks, miners and a number of solid profit results. The ASX 200 briefly rose above 6000pts for the first time in three weeks.

US sharemarkets gyrated after the release of the Federal Reserve minutes. After being up as much as 303 points, the Dow Jones reversed course to end lower by 167 points or 0.7%. The S&P 500 index fell by 0.6%. The Nasdaq lost 16 points or 0.2%.

The ASX 200 gave up a 30 point improvement in early trade to end the session with modest gain of 0.12% or 7 points. Early trade was marked by caution after investors took fright following the release of the latest FOMC minutes.

The ASX 200 is flat at lunch after being up by as much as 30 points in early trade after a volatile session on Wall St which saw the Dow close 166pts lower having been ahead as much as 303 points.

A2 Milk (A2M) is up 22.5%, its profit almost tripled to $98.5 million largely due to its infant formula accounting for most of its profits. Wages growth up 0.6% which was higher than expected and the Aussie Dollar is at 78.90 US cents.

US sharemarkets fell sharply on Tuesday – for the first time in six days – led lower by Walmart. The world’s largest bricks and mortar retailer reported a lower-than-expected profit and posted a sharp drop in online sales growth.

Local shares did well to recover from a slow start, with the ASX 200 ending the day 2.8pts or 0.05 per cent firmer. The gains came despite substantial losses across the mining sector and losses ~1 per cent for US markets last night.

Local shares have fallen in early trade on Tuesday with miners among the worst performing groups, Super Retail Group has seen its share price dive on a disappointing earnings result. The Aussie dollar is weaker in the face of a firmer US dollar.

U.S. financial markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day holiday. European sharemarkets fell on Monday. Reuters reports that shares in Reckitt Benckiser, down 7%.

The Aussie dollar firmed in late Asian trade to be at 79.30 US cents, while materials stocks were weighed down by reports the US is considering applying tariffs and quotas to steel and aluminium imports.

US blue-chip shares rose on Friday but the day’s gains were nearly all lost in the last hour of trade. Traders booked profits ahead of a long-weekend. At the close the Dow Jones was up by 19 points or 0.1% after earlier being up 232 points.

Despite a slow start the Aussie market picked up momentum this afternoon to end near intraday highs. The ASX 200 rose by 0.65% as losses in the mining sector dissipated. Woodside was the main weight as investors reacted to news of a capital raising.