Markets 1: Too Much Optimism, Too Much Complacency?
Is it time to be worried about the market’s current phase?
Read MoreIs it time to be worried about the market’s current phase?
Read MoreAMP and its prospective takeover target, AXA Asia Pacific, make a fine couple.
Read MoreQantas posted a more than four-fold increase in first-half net profit in the December half, revealed plans to add more planes to its fleet and revamp its schedule to try and defend itself against a revitalised Virgin Blue, and once again forgot shareholders.
Read MoreThe Coles Group purchase, criticised four years ago by some analysts, continues to pay off for Wesfarmers and its shareholders.
Read MoreBHP Billiton shares fell yesterday because some shareholders were unhappy at the news of the sharply higher interim profit, higher dividend and a new, higher share buyback.
Read MoreExcepting sugar and bananas, Australia’s major winter and summer crops seem to have fared better than first thought from the floods in Queensland in late 2010 and last month and in Victoria in January.
Read MoreSo what’s BHP Billiton’s outlook on the world economy and commodity markets.
Read MoreOnce again we have an example of the two speed earnings with BHP Billiton’s record profit and The Reject Shop’s fall and revelation that it could be facing financial strains because of the Queensland floods.
Read MoreCSL has again seen profits hit by the strong Australian dollar, yesterday forecasting a 10% fall in full year earnings based on current exchange rates.
Read MoreFoster’s divorce is on its way with shareholders to vote on the separation of beer and wine in late April.
Read MoreEven though Brambles Ltd lifted sales and earnings in the 6 month to December 31, and is paying a slightly higher interim dividend, the market couldn’t make its mind up about the worth of the result.
Read MoreWe had some news and movement yesterday in the two big financial services deals afoot in Australia: the proposed takeover of the ASX by the Singapore Stock Exchange and the proposed takeover of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings by the AMP.
Read MoreWestpac has gone against the trend in reporting a fall in first quarter cash earnings, unlike the NAB and the Commonwealth last week.
Read MoreChina will go on tightening monetary policy, despite a small rise in the inflation rate in the year to January to an annual rate of 4.9%.
Read MoreAs expected Japan’s economy contracted in the 4th quarter of last year, but it was an outcome that should be ignored.
Read MoreWe had another good example of the two speed nature of the current reporting season yesterday with emerging nickel miner, Western Areas confirming that it enjoyed a sharp rise in profits in the December 31 period, and medium women’s wear retailer, Specialty Fashion Group revealing a 37% drop.
Read MoreBendigo and Adelaide Bank has produced a solid 16% rise in cash earnings for the six month to December 31 and lifted interim dividend 2c a share to 30c as a result.
Read MoreBad weather and the continued drag of the unwanted insurance business in Britain have combined to hurt Insurance Australia Group’s interim profit more than the impact of Australia’s spate of floods in late 2010.
Read MoreLeighton Holdings, Australia’s biggest contractor, has cut its interim dividend after reporting a 25% slide in half year profits and revealing a 6% reduction in its full year earnings estimate.
Read MoreThe second last full week of interim profit reports this week and we are going to see a repeat of the two speed (maybe three speed) reporters.
Read MoreReports from two leading companies on Friday nicely illustrated the current ‘two speed’ earnings/sales performance for the six to 12 months to December.
Read MoreUS stocks closed out their second straight week of gains on Friday with a rally sparked after President Hosni Mubarak resigned.
Read MoreCommodity prices ended mixed on Friday after the Mubarak resignation.
Read MoreAnother big week for Australian earnings (see above story).
Read MoreThe high iron and coal prices might be great for the likes of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto (see above for Rio’s big 2010 result), but they are starting to reshape the steel industry, and the big suppliers had better take notice.
Read MoreAustralia’s jobs boom continued in January, but the floods in Queensland make it hard to work out the real strength of employment in the month.
Read MoreTelstra, Australia’s largest Telco, has reported a 36% fall in first-half profit, maintained its high 14c a share and done a deal to get the NBN underway and the cash rolling in from Canberra.
Read MoreQuestion, what do a worsening drought in China, the latest Chinese interest rate rise and the inflation figures for January have in common?
Read MoreNo wonder Rio Tinto shares perked up 30c right at the end of trading yesterday at around 4 pm.
Read MoreThe market must be back to normal, or close to it.
Read MoreThe market loved Boral’s profit announcement yesterday, sending the shares 9% higher at one stage.
Read MoreSecurities in Stockland added more than 3% yesterday, hitting their highest level since last October, after the property developer said it almost doubled first-half profit and upgraded its full-year earnings outlook to growth of 8.5% from 7% previously.
Read MoreShareholders who stuck with OZ Minerals through the dark days of 2008-09, or who bought the shares in 2009 amid considerable scepticism about whether it would survive, will get a nice fat payoff after the boom 2010 financial year result.
Read MoreFour years ago, the Commonwealth Bank’s share price was $51 and the interim profit was $2.2 billion.
Read MoreHearing implant maker Cochlear may have beaten analyst forecasts with a 16% rise in first-half net profit on an 8% rise in sales, but it couldn’t win over a suddenly sceptical market yesterday.
Read MoreThe market took a negative view of yesterday’s interim result from Bradken Ltd, the rail and engineering group, sending the shares down more than 6% at one stage, despite a solid rise in earnings and a lift in dividend.
Read MoreThe Reserve Bank and the federal government reckon the floods in Queensland and Victoria could lop half a per cent off economic growth, mostly in the December and March quarters.
Read MoreA gentle fudge from Macquarie Group yesterday with its latest operational update?
Read MoreA sigh of relief was heard around the markets yesterday as both Macquarie Group (see below) and the National Australia Bank revealed slightly better than forecast trading updates.
Read MoreArgo Investments, the country’s second biggest Listed Investment Company, says it is cashed up and looking to invest if it sees opportunities.
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