Markets

US sharemarkets were mixed on Wednesday. A steep drop in oil prices dragged the energy sector lower.The FOMC minutes gave little insight into the timing of rate hikes but did confirm that participants were split on shrinking the Feds balance sheet.

The local share market managed to stage a late recovery, however it wasn’t enough to see the index close in positive territory. The ASX 200 ended the session down 4 points or 0.1% to 5,758 – weighed down by losses from banking, energy & telco stocks.

US markets were closed for the Independence Day holiday. European markets eased in light trade. The world’s oldest surviving bank, Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena to receive 5.4bn Euro aid package.

The local share market gave back some of yesterday’s gains, with the ASX 200 slipping 0.4% or 20 points to 5,763. Losses were widespread, with only the Materials, Telco & Real Estate sectors finishing firmer.

The local share market is under pressure on Wednesday, held down by falls from Healthcare, Utilities and Financial stocks. The ASX 200 is down 0.4% or 25 points to 5,758.

The local share market is rallying on Tuesday with the ASX 200 up 1.7%. The index is on track to record its best one day improvement in eight months if gains are sustained.

US sharemarkets were mostly higher on Monday with the exception being the Nasdaq. Financial and energy stocks led the gains in a shorter trading session.

The ASX 200 has rallied 99 points or 1.75% – enjoying its best one-day gain in eight months. Every sector climbed higher, with Financials, Property Trusts, Telcos and Consumer Discretionary stocks the out performers.

The local share market is off to a weak start, held down by falls from healthcare, consumer staples and telco stocks. Fairfax shares have fallen almost 12% after the company said it has ceased takeover talks with two interested parties.

US sharemarkets were mostly higher on Friday with the exception being the Nasdaq. Nike share rose 11% after the world’s largest footwear maker said it would launch a pilot online sales program with Amazon.com. The Dow Jones rose by 63 points or 0.3%.

The local share market has extended Friday’s losses with almost all sectors losing ground. The ASX 200 slipped 0.6% or 37 points to 5,684.

The ASX 200 is down 1.3% at mid-session with losses spread across the board. Utilities and consumers discretionary stocks are leading the declines, with both sectors down 1.8%.

US sharemarkets fell on Thursday. Investors booked profits at the end of month and quarter, especially on high-flying technology stocks. Financials and energy stocks were amongst the best performers.

Investors sold off local stocks on the last day of the financial year, sending the ASX 200 down 1.7%. However, over the 2016/17 financial year, the ASX 200 rose 9.3%.

I had three reminders this week about how important it is to diversify – to spread your investment risks.

The ASX 200 is up 0.7% at mid session, boosted by gains from the materials, financial and energy sectors.

The ASX 200 has finished the session up 1.1%, boosted by solid gains in the financial, materials and energy sectors.

US sharemarkets fell on Tuesday with tech stocks leading the declines. A delay in the healthcare bill vote raised questions about the ability of President Trump to advance his domestic agenda.

The local share market has been boosted by strong gains from the financial, energy and materials sectors.

The local share market has shrugged off a weak lead from Wall Street, helped higher by gains from resource stocks following a rise in commodity prices.

The local share market is suffering losses across the board on Tuesday, with almost all sectors trading weaker. Financials are the only exception, with the sector just managing to remain in positive territory.

US sharemarkets ended mixed on Monday. Gains in defensive sectors like utilities and telecommunications rose but technology stocks eased.

The local share market has managed to recover some earlier losses, thanks to gains from the banks & miners. The ASX 200 ended down just 6 points or 0.10%, having been down as much as 35 points.

The ASX 200 is up 0.1%, helped higher by gains from consumer, healthcare and resource stocks. Telcos and industrials are being sold off.

US sharemarkets ended mixed on Friday. Gains in technology stocks offset weakness in financials. All banks passed the latest stress tests. Investors mulled whether the Senate would pass a bill to replace the Obamacare healthcare reforms.

After dipping in & out of negative territory today, the ASX 200 has managed to finish in the black – up 4 points or 0.1% to 5,720.

Local shares are edging lower at lunch as financials run into renewed uncertainty following a decision by the South Australian state Government to impose a levy on banks. Most other sectors are higher although lends are casting a pall over sentiment.

US markets faded in late trade to finish flat on Thursday. Healthcare did best after Republicans unveiled draft legislation to repeal Obamacare. Oil prices bounced off 10-month lows which briefly helped energy stocks.

The ASX 200 stumbled over the line to end higher by 9pts on Friday – Although for the week the week the index posted a loss of 1%. Banks ran into headwinds as participants considered the latest government initiative to tax lenders in South Australia.

The ASX 200 is up 0.5% or 31 points to 5,696, recovering slightly after yesterday having its worst one-day loss so far this year.

US sharemarkets were mixed on Wednesday. Lower oil prices continued to weigh on the energy sector. Bank stocks fell on worries what the flat yield curve means for profits.

The ASX 200 has recovered some of yesterday’s losses, helped by recoveries in the Financial, Energy and Materials sectors. The index gained 40 points or 0.7% to 5,706.

The ASX 200 index is down 1.3% or 75 points to 5,681 – hit by heavy falls in the energy, materials, financial and telco sectors.

The price of oil hit 9-month lows overnight which pushed US markets lower after hitting record highs 24 hours earlier. Energy and mining stocks were hit hard. BHP and RIO in London fell by 3%.

Local shares fell further on Wednesday, hurt by lower commodity prices and a weak from Wall Street. The ASX 200 dropped 91 points or 1.6% to 5,665.

The local share market is under pressure on Tuesday with the ASX 200 down 0.1% or 6 points. Financials are being sold off after Moody’s downgraded the credit ratings of 12 local lenders.

Strong gains from technology stocks and banks led both the Dow and S&P500 to record highs and helped the Nasdaq have its best improvement of the year. Hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve official pushed the US dollar higher.

The local share market came under pressure on Tuesday, with the ASX 200 slipping 0.8% or 48 points to 5,757. The banks lost ground, after Moody’s downgraded the credit ratings of 12 local lenders.