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.

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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.

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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.

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