Bank of Queensland Limited

The Australian shares opened higher on Tuesday despite most Asian markets dropped in early trade. Miners were boosted by stronger copper and gold prices. Most Asian markets yesterday rose as sentiment was improved after prospects of a European Union and the International Monetary Fund bailout for Greece. The Australian sharemarket was closed on Monday for a public holiday. In economic news today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to unveil producer price indices (PPI) for March quarter. The National Australia Bank releases its business confidence survey for the March quarter.

Australian shares were stronger in early trade Thursday as resources sector were boosted by expectations of a batch of positive economic data from China. The benchmark ASX200 index rose to above 5000-point territory for the first time in 19 months, following the recent rebound of the broader All Ordinaries share index. Asian markets broadly were higher today with Japan's Nikkei opened up 0.9 per cent.

Overnight Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 points for the first time in a year, as the investors were encouraged by the better-than-expected earnings from Intel and JPMorgan Chase. The gains in stocks market were also helped by the positive September US retail sales data, which could be a further confirmation of a recovery.

US stocks opened lower overnight due to the massive drop in Shanghai shares, which also caused a broad selloff in Asia markets. But Wall Street ended the day higher as the energy companies were boosted on hope of an improving demand. The US oil futures rose after the US Department of Energy said US oil inventories plunged unexpectedly.

The Australian shares closed marginally higher on Wednesday despite weak lead from Wall Street and steep quarterly contraction in Japan. The resources stocks were higher on stronger commodities prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 7.3 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 3824.6, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 8.3 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 3808.9. Investors are expecting some pullback in recent trading sessions and seeking more fund raisings at discount on the market.

Yesterday the Australian shares closed with a three months high, lifted by stronger banks and resources stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 2.2%, or 81.3 points, at 3752.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index also gained 2.2%, or 80.5 points, at 3698. The financial sector was largely buoyed by the US bank Goldman Sachs’ first quarter earnings.

Australian shares closed lowered yesterday as investors expected a further fall on US market. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 86.8 points, or 2.3 per cent, to 3619.5, while the All Ordinaries was down 81 points, or 2.22 per cent at 3567.5. The financial stocks may be hit by International Monetary Fund's forecast of increasing toxic assets.

The Australian shares ended higher yesterday on the back of some better-than-expected earnings reports. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 35.7 points, or 1.1%, to 3448.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 31.1 points or 0.9% to 3398.

On Friday, the Australian shares reversed an early fall despite the negative leads overnight on overseas markets. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 14.5 points, or 0.41 per cent, at 3,540.7, while the broader All Ordinaries index had gained 16.8 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 3,478.1. This week traders are awaiting RBA's aggressive rate cut which is expected to announced when its board meets on Tuesday.

The Australian stock market closed more than two per cent lower on Friday following weakness in United States markets caused by doubts over a rescue package for US car makers. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had fallen 87.6 points, or 2.43 per cent, to 3,510.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 81.7 points, or 2.31 per cent, to 3,452.5. As the US Senate's rejected the $14-billion bailout for American automotive makers, the stock market is expected to continue moving downward on the negative news.