AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited

The Australian share market lost much of its early gains after NAB's surprise bid for the local and New Zealand assets of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. Woodside's capital raising also gave the market a pullback. At the close, the local market was slightly higher. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 8.4 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 4670.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 13.5 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 4689.6 points.

Dubai yesterday said it had received US$10 billion in financing from Abu Dhabi to pay part of the debt held by Dubai World and its property unit Nakheel. The news prompted the Australian market into positive territory in late trade. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 0.4 per cent, at 4654, after earlier falling as low as 4608.3. The broader-based All Ordinaries index climbed 16.8 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4668.2.

US stocks overnight closed at a new high for the year as the G20 finance ministers and central bankers pledged to keep stimulus measures until a recovery was certain. Dow jumped more than 200 points for the session, with 29 of the index's 30 components finished in the green.

Wall Street posted a small gain on Friday despite the Labour Department report showed the US unemployment rate broke above 10 per cent in October, up from 9.8 per cent in September. But the number of jobs lost narrowed to the lowest level in more than a year.

US stocks traded slightly higher overnight with more buying in financials. Analysts expect there would be a short-term correction after the rally as investors lock in gains from a strong three-week rally.

Yesterday Australian shares closed lower on concern about the health of US banks. The benchmark the S&P/ASX200 index fell 0.6%, or 23.3 points, at 3867.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 0.6%, or 22.1 points, at 3840.1.

Yesterday Australian shares fell after Wall Street plummeted on renewed banking fears. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index plunged 2.4%, or 91.6 points, at 3677.4, while broad-market All Ordinaries index lost 2.4%, or 89.2 points, at 3633.1.

Yesterday the Australian market closed marginally higher as financial stocks surged. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 0.1%, or 3.2 points at 3348.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 0.1%, or 2.6 points, at 3297.3. Australian shares may receive support from the stronger copper and oil prices, despite the falls on Wall Street.

Yesterday the Australian shares fell 1.2 per cent after the weak lead from Wall Street last week. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 dropped 42.2 points, or 1.2%, at 3,516.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 35.4 points, or 1%, to 3461.3. Lacking lead from the US, the market attention will be on recent Chinese and Japanese takeover bids for the Australian companies and a string of corporate results.

On Thursday, the Australian shares rose for the third consecutive day led by rallies in overseas markets and strong commodities prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 30.7 points, or 0.88 per cent, at 3,526.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index had gained 26.2 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 3,461.3. The Australian market might lose its recent gains following the heavy fall in Wall St.