The Institute of Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index rose to 47 in June from 44 in May. This is a survey on the US services sector, which makes up 80 per cent of the US economy. The result was better than expected, and was the best reading since September 2008 when it was at 50.

There were mixed results on the US markets overnight, and a report showed the US services sector contracted less than expected in June. The Dow picked up 44.13 points or 0.53 per cent to 8324.87. The Nasdaq fell 9.12 points or 0.51 per cent to 1787.4. The S&P 500 gained 2.30 points or 0.26 per […]

Australian stocks were down at market close today with the S&P/ASX 200 losing 44.5 points or 1.16 per cent to 3783.7. The All Ords fell 42.4 points or 1.11 per cent to close at 3784.2. BHP Billiton took $0.81 or 2.42 per cent off to $32.62, while Rio Tinto closed trading down $1.10 or 2.22 […]

Australian shares opened on a sour note and continued to fall during morning trading. At midday, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 56.6 points or 1.48 per cent to 3771.6. The All Ords had fallen 53.7 points or 1.40 per cent to 3772.9. By industry sector, Energy was down 2.3 percent, Materials lost 2.16 per cent […]

The Australian Financial Review conducted a recent survey of equity analysts who tipped the S&P/ASX 200 would hit 4,800 by 30 June, 2010. We are now at 3,828. 

US markets were closed on Friday for the Independence Day long weekend. On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 49.1 points or 1.27 per cent to 3828.2 and the All Ords was down 48.6 points or 1.25 per cent to 3826.6. Oil was at $65.26 a barrel, and the Oz dollar was trading at 79.33 US […]

Australian stocks fell today, following in the footsteps of Wall St which tumbled overnight on the news of worse than expected US jobs data. At close the S&P/ASX200 had taken off 1.27 per cent or 49.1 points to 3828.2. Most industry sectors saw a fall except for consumer staples, up 34.7 points to 6,599.6, and […]

Factory orders in the US went up 1.2 per cent in May and that’s the best increase in close to 12 months. 

US markets plummeted overnight, bringing to a close the third down week in a row as a US jobs report revealed employers laid off more jobs than expected. The Dow Jones dropped 223.32 points or 2.63 per cent to 8280.74. The Nasdaq lost 49.20 points or 2.67 per cent to 1796.52. The S&P 500 took […]

The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index rose to 44.8 in June from 42.8 in May but was just short of expectations. However this very important economic indicator has risen six months in a row and this is the longest positive run since the 2001 recession. Importantly, it’s the highest reading since August 2008.  

US markets had an optimistic start to the second half of the year with stocks finishing up overnight. A number of results from manufacturing surveys generally showing growth in the sector, were also released around the world yesterday. The Dow rose 57.06 points or 0.68 per cent to 8504.06. The Nasdaq went up 10.68 points […]

According to a Reuters survey of  more than 150 equity strategists from around the world, the S&P 500 is expected to rally a further eight per cent by the end of the year, and Australian stocks to rise six per cent! The S&P 500 closed its highest quarter since the end of 1998, and the […]