Markets

The local sharemarket is weaker at mid-session, held back by falls from the financial and telco sectors. Energy & mining stocks though are outperforming, recovering some recent losses.

US sharemarkets gyrated after the Federal Reserve decision as investors mulled new forecasts and comments from the Fed chair. The Fed expects the economy to grow by 2.7% this year (previously tipped +2.5%)

The local sharemarket has finished weaker, with almost all sectors retreating. Mining & energy stocks rebounded though, recovering some recent losses. The ASX 200 ended the session down 13 points or 0.2% to 5,937.

Billionaire James Packer has resigned from the board of his Crown Resorts business because of mental health reasons. The ASX 200 is flat at mid-session with gains from Energy & mining stocks offset by falls in the Telco & Healthcare sectors.

US sharemarkets rebounded on Tuesday as the energy sector (+0.8%) increased on the back of rising oil prices. Financial stocks (+0.2%) rose as investors positioned for an expected interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

The local sharemarket has managed to finish in the black, with the ASX 200 gaining 13 points or 0.2% to 5,950. The US Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates when it’s two-day policy meeting comes to an end tomorrow at 5am.

US sharemarkets fell sharply on Monday as the decline in social media giant Facebook’s share price (-6.8%) weighed on the technology sector. Shares of Facebook slumped on reports that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

The local sharemarket has finished the session weaker, breaking a two-session winning streak. The market was weighed down by heavy losses in the materials & energy sectors, amid concerns about weakening Chinese demand for iron ore.

The local market is retreating, following a slump on Wall Street overnight and weaker iron ore prices. The ASX 200 is down 33 points or 0.6% to 5,926.

US sharemarkets were firmer on Friday. A strong lift in production in February boosted market sentiment. A lift in the oil price buoyed the energy sector. The Dow Jones index rose by 73 points or 0.3% after trading in a 174 point range.

The ASX 200 has closed higher for a second consecutive session following a choppy day of trade Monday. The index finished 10 points or 0.2% higher after being down at lunch. Energy stocks were the biggest gainers with financials weighing.

Local shares were off to a buoyant start but have faded with the ASX200 up 5pts or 0.1% at 5954pts. The mining and energy sectors have been the main contributor to early market strength with Wesfarmers the main weight on its planned demerger of Coles.

US sharemarkets were mixed. The Dow Jones index rose after a three-day slide as industrial shares gained after White House international adviser, Peter Navarro, played down the chances of a trade war due to protectionist policies.

A 6.3% jump in Wesfarmers shares has helped the local sharemarket finish up 0.5% on Friday. The rally follows an announcement by WES that it’s going to spin-off its Coles business.

The ASX 200 has shrugged off a mixed lead from Wall St to trade higher, up 18 points or 0.3% to 5,939. Wesfarmers shares have surged 6% following news it will spin-off its Coles business.

The local sharemarket has continued to decline, following a weak lead from Wall Street. Banks are weighing on the market as the Royal Commission hearings continue.

US sharemarkets were weaker on Wednesday. Fears of a trade war with China weighed on sentiment. US economic data had little impact on interest rate expectations. Shares in Boeing weighed most on the Dow Jones index off 2.5%. The Dow fell 249pts.

The local ASX 200 has fallen for a third straight session, slipping 14 points or 0.2% to 5,920. Losses in the financial & energy sectors weighed on the market.

The local sharemarket has retreated for a second session with investors cautious after US President Trump fired his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.

The local sharemarket is continuing losses from yesterday, with the ASX 200 down 43 points or 0.7% to 5,932. All sectors are lower following a weak lead from the US following the firing of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by President Donald Trump.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday as investors reacted to President Trump’s decision to fire his Secretary of State. But investors were comforted by the benign reading on inflation, indicating that the Federal Reserve can be measured with rate hikes.

US sharemarkets were mixed on Monday. Shares in key industrial stocks such as Boeing (down 2.9%) and Caterpillar (down 2.4%) fell on continued worries about US President Trump’s tariff plans.

The ASX 200 has closed down 21 points or 0.4% to 5,974 with almost all sectors losing ground. Investors are awaiting key US inflation data due out tonight.

The local sharemarket is giving up some recent gains, with the ASX 200 down 36 points or 0.6% to 5,959. The market is being held back by falls in the mining, energy & telco sectors.

The local sharemarket has extended last week’s gains, helped by strong gains in the Energy, Materials and Healthcare sectors. The ASX 200 closed up 0.6% or 32 points to 5,996.

The ASX 200 has kicked off the week in positive territory, helped by a positive lead from Wall Street. The index is up 37 points or 0.6% to 6,000.

US sharemarkets posted solid gains around 1.75% on Friday. Investors were pleased at the jobs report showing solid gains in jobs but weak wage growth. In addition President Trump said he was prepared to meet the North Korean leader.

US sharemarkets bounced back in the final 20 minutes of trade. The Dow Jones, S&P500 and Nasdaq all finished higher. Pres. Trump confirmed a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium. Said Canada and Mexico exempted as long as NAFTA agreed on.

The ASX 200 ended the gain with 0.3% bringing the gains to the week to 0.6%. Banks advanced whilst iron ore miners were lower on weaker prices.

Local shares end the week on a positive note, helped by solid gains on Wall St. Mining and energy names are lagging the broader market on the back of weaker commodity prices in the last day.

The ASX 200 is up 0.45% or 27 points with banks leading gains. Material stocks are the main weight as BHP and South32 trade ex-div. Australia’s trade surplus has jumped to $1.05 bn for January.

US markets finished mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones easing by just 0.3% and the S&P500 index ending flat. The market was down as much as 1.2% at one stage due to the surprise resignation of President Trump’s top economic adviser, Gary Cohn yesterday.

The ASX 200 closed higher by 0.7% having shed 1% a day earlier. Materials and Energy were the only 2 sectors to close lower weighed down by lower oil prices and BHP going ex-dividend. The Aussie dollar is a 78.30 US cents.

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.