ASX 200 Update - ASX Slipped after Early Losses Recovery

Today, ASX closed slightly lower, as a fall in Wall Street Futures weighed in late trade. The S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 5.4 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 5420.3. Both indices recovered from early losses and trade higher during the after noon before the late drop. 

Among the sectors, financials fell 0.7 per cent, led down by a drop in NAB, which posted a record profit that hit expectations but failed to impress investors. Materials gained 0.2 per cent,while consumer staples jumped 1 per cent.

Take a look at how some of the blue chips performed today:

• BHP: flat
• Rio: +0.9%
• ANZ: +0.4%
• CBA: -1.2%
• NAB: -2.5%
• Westpac: -1.75%
• Woolies: +0.1%
• Wesfarmers: +1.6%
• Telstra: +0.2%
• Newcrest: -3.5%

ASX 200

ASX 200 Market Update - October 31, 2013

• The ASX edges higher after recovering from early losses, but the banks, led by NAB, are still weighing on the market.
• This is how rest of the region's markets are doing:
• Japan (Nikkei): -0.2%
• Hong Kong: -0.4%
• Shanghai: -0.45%
• Taiwan: -0.2%
• Korea: -0.7%
• ASX200: +0.05%
• Singapore: -0.2%
• New Zealand: +0.15% 
• Stocks are mostly down on speculation the Federal Reserve will start tapering stimulus in coming months. 
• ASX 200

ASX 200 Market Wrap - Australian Shares ended on a Positive Note

• Australian shares traded on a firm note today as investors expect the US Federal Reserve to maintain the economic stimulus.
• The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index added 15.4 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5430.9, while the  broader All Ordinaries index gained 14.7 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5425.4.
•  Today, ASX couldn't capitalize on the morning gains and fell short as investors traded cautiously ahead of an important economic event like FOMC meeting.
• Australian dollar (AUD) appreciated today and it closed at 0.95008 USD or 95.008 US Cents.
• NAB shares dropped 45 cents to $36.23, while ANZ gained seven cents to $33.70, Commonwealth Bank added 22 cents to $77.01 and Westpac was 30 cents higher at $34.90.
• Among the day's top performers was JB Hi-Fi, which said sales in the early months of the financial year were higher. Its shares gained 75 cents, or 3.65 per cent, to $21.29.

ASX Shares Tips

ASX 200 Market Update - October 30, 2013

• The Australian market has shown some strength and have recovered from some of the yesterday's losses but investors are still trading on the sidelines ahead of the FOMC meeting.

• Regional markets are higher today, as investors trading cautiously because of Fed meeting:
• Japan (Nikkei): +1.2%
• Hong Kong: +0.8%
• Shanghai: +0.8%
• Taiwan: +0.1%
• Korea: +0.1%
• ASX200: +0.3%
• Singapore: +0.1%
• New Zealand: +0.3%

• RBA Governor Glenn Stevens yesterday said that local currency will depreciate in coming days and market experts are saying that AUD is more likely to strengthen rather than weaken.

 ASX Share Tips

ASX 200 Market Wrap-up - October 29, 2013

The Australian share market ended in red  despite of ANZ continued to reach new heights and it closed at 5,415.5 (-25.9 points or -0.48%) as investors took profits after the recent record highs reached by three of the big four banks. The broader All Ordinaries index was down 26.6 points, or 0.49 per cent, at 5,410.7. 

ANZ continued to reach new highs after making a record $6.5 billion cash profit in the year to September. But shares in its rivals fell. ANZ gained 39 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to $33.63, while NAB finished flat at $36.68, Westpac dropped one cent to $34.60 and Commonwealth Bank was 61 cents lower at $76.79.

National turnover was 1.85 billion securities worth $4.9 billion.

Given below are today's gainers and losers:

ASX 200

ASX 200 Market Update - October 29, 2013

• The Australian share market is trading in the red today, despite a bumper profit by ANZ that has pushed its shares to new all-time highs.
• Rest of the region's markets are also heading same way:
• Japan (Nikkei): -0.15%
• Hong Kong: -0.1%
• Shanghai: -0.6%
• Taiwan: -0.3%
• Korea: -0.2%
• Singapore: -0.1%
• New Zealand: +0.05%

• The dollar has recovered a bit and is currently trading at 95.46 US cents, after trading as low as 95.15 US cents, but analysts believe that some down slide is still possible.
• RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said that dollar is not supported by the costs and productivity in the economy, further added that the terms of trade are also more likely to fall than rise.

ASX 200

Investors waited on Australian Currency as Fed Meets

Today, local currency traded in a narrow range as investors await information from the Australian and U.S. central banks this week. At 5:00 PM, AUD was trading at 96.05 US cents, same as Friday's figure. Investors are eagerly waiting for the outcome of Federal Open Market Committee's decision, which finishes on Thursday morning, of when the US central bank will end its economic stimulus program.

Experts are expecting that market will be quiet till Thursday and some downward pressure might be there on Australian currency as U.S. dollar will probably improve its position in coming couple of days. Australian bond futures prices were also lower ahead of the FOMC decision. At 4.30pm AEDT, the December 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.030 (implying a yield of 3.970 per cent), down from 96.065 (implying a yield of 3.935 per cent) on Friday. The December three-year bond futures contract was at 96.950 (3.050 per cent), down from 96.970 (3.030 per cent).

ASX 200

S&P/ASX 200 Market Update - October 28, 2013

• Australian market is off to a flier start this week and it has already crossed 5400-mark as blue chip stocks are driving the market higher.
• Quick glance at the region's markets:
• Nikkei: +1%
• Hang Seng: +0.5%
• Taiwan: +0.6%
• South Korea: +0.2%
• Singapore: +0.3%
• New Zealand: +0.6%
• Today, all three big banks namely: CBA, ANZ and WestPac are at all time peak levels. While NAB is touching 12-month high.
• Blue Chips are looking good today:
• BHP: +1.2%
• Rio: +1%
• ANZ: +1.3%
• CBA: +1.2%
• NAB: +1.6%
• Westpac: +1.3%
• Fortescue: +2.1%
• Woolworths: +1.1%
• Wesfarmers: +1.1%
• Telstra: +1.4%

 ASX 200

ASX Weekly Overview (21st - 25th October, 2013)

This week ASX 200 touched the five-year high levels and market experts are saying that Australia's benchmark index is set for further gains as positive earnings are expected in next few weeks. On Tuesday, stocks on the ASX 200 hit the five-year high level for the third consecutive session, it traded around 5370-level during mid-morning session.

Australian stocks are up by 15.5 per cent year to date, not far behind the S&P 500's 20 per cent year to date gain on Wall Street. Actually, positive economic data from Australia's major trading partner, China coupled with the end of political uncertainty in U.S. has helped boost sentiment. Also the election of a new Australian government in September ended the political uncertainty and boosted the confidence in economy.

ASX Tips 

S&P/ASX 200 Closing Bell - October 25, 2013

• 
  The benchmark S&P/ASX200 edged up 13.4 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 5386.3, while the broader All Ords rose 12.0 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 5385.7 
• Among the sectors, financials added 0.5 per cent, energy gained 0.8 per cent, while materials ended flat and IT lost 1.5 per cent.  
• For the week, the ASX200 ended 1.2 per cent higher, chalking up its third straight weekly gain. 
• The ASX200 has managed to hang onto its gains, swimming against the regional tide, with most share markets in the red today.

 ASX Tips

S&P/ASX 200 Market Update - October 25, 2013

ASX 200

• The ASX is inching towards the psychological 5400 point barrier.
• Most of the region’s markets are down apart from the ASX 200 as earnings from major companies are disappointing. Following markets are negative except ASX 200:

• ·         Japan (Nikkei): -1%
  ·         Hong Kong: -0.3%
  ·         Shanghai: -0.9%
  ·         Taiwan: -0.4%
  ·         Korea: -0.6%
  ·         ASX200: +0.4%
  ·         Singapore: -0.2%
  ·         New Zealand: +0.4%
  
  
  ASX 200

Australian Dollar went lower after China debt report

Australian currency fell sharply today after a report saying that China wrote off three times more bad loans in the first half of the year. At 12pm AEDT today, the local dollar was trading at 96.33US cents down from 96.53US cents yesterday.  Yesterday, the local currency touched five month high of 97.58 US cents, after the release of September quarter inflation figures.

Earlier today, market experts were saying that if China Manufacturing Index (PMI) from HSBC comes positive then it can give a boost to Australian currency and later today after a positive China PMI (seven month-high) data from HSBC things happened as speculated; the Australian dollar (AUD) rose and traded higher against its U.S. (USD) counterpart. In today's trading, AUD rose 0.38 per cent to 0.9660. Being China as the largest export market of Australia, AUD is affected largely by Chinese market data and market figures.

ASX 200

Australian Market Update - October 24, 2013

• Australian shares are up, led by strong financial and healthcare sectors, with CBA hitting a new record high. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation's second biggest company by market value, hit a record high share price of $75.25 in late morning trade.
• BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner and Australia's biggest corporation, lost 13 cents to $37.37, after three days of gains and after a shaky morning start, Rio Tinto gained four cents to $63.69.
• Other key facts for Today:
• At 12pm AEDT today, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 16.8 points, or 0.31 per cent, at 5372.9 points.
• The broader All Ordinaries index was up 16.9 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 5373.7 points.
• The December share price index futures contract was 14 points firmer at 5360 points, with 10,552 contracts traded.
• National turnover was 611.4 million securities worth $1.3 billion 

ASX 200

ASX Market Outlook - October 23, 2013

• Australian dollar took a plunge against US dollar after a report saying that China money market rates are surging and Yen is strengthening on technical. US jobs data and positive quarterly inflation figures also boosted the Australian currency in early trades.
• Due to late sell-off, the S&P/ASX 200 index lost 17 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5356.1, after hitting 5400 in early stages of the session. Traders are scratching their heads for the reasons behind this sudden sell-off. Some are pointing to the afternoon strengthening in Yen against U.S. dollar while others are saying investors were cautious by a report on Bloomberg , saying that China's biggest banks have tripled the amount of bad loans written off in the first half, cleaning up their books ahead of what may be a fresh wave of defaults.
  
  ASX 200

Australian Inflation Figures are Better than Expected

Australian inflation rose more than expected in September quarter due to a sharp spike in fuel prices and this spike sent the local (Australian) dollar to a 4-1/2 month high level. However, despite the rise in quarterly figures, the annual inflation remained in the bottom half of Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) 2-3 per cent target level.

Where Aussie Stocks are heading to???

Now days, Australian stocks are touching five-year highs and market analysts are saying that Australian indexes are ready and all set to touch new highs in coming weeks. Now, the question arises; where these stocks are heading to??

Today, S&P ASX 200 touched a five-year high level for the third consecutive session and it was trading around 5,370-level in mid morning session. So what is the sentiment that is driving the market so positively? Analysts suggest couple of reasons behind this turn around; they say that China is major trading partner of Australia and recently better economic data from China has boosted not only the Australian markets but also the major Asian markets like India, Hong Kong and Japan. Other reasons they give are; the end of political uncertainty in U.S. coupled with the election of new Australian government. These recent happenings have helped boosted the sentiment in market.

Although some analysts are saying that Australian markets are overvalued and good days are far from over. However, opposite to these views global mining giant BHP Billiton (the second-largest firm listed on ASX) reported strong quarterly-earnings which propelled its stock by 2.5 per cent in morning trade.

As we quoted in one of our previous post that the banking stocks (ANZ, NAB and Westpac) are pushing new highs. These stocks are among the top five largest stocks on the index and are ready to report strong numbers which will drive the market to new highs.

ASX 200