Centro Properties Group

The Australian shares dropped this morning after Wall Street ended its four straight day rises. US shares fell on news that orders for big-ticket items sank in June on weaker demand for airplanes and electronic goods.

Australian market continued its gains on Tuesday as energy stocks had another strong day. The global markets rallied in the first trading day of this year while the upbeat manufacturing data from the United States, China and India boosted investor confidence over a global recovery in 2010. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index surged 48 points, or 1 per cent, at 4924.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index increased 49.7 points, or 1 per cent, to 4939.5.

US stocks closed slightly higher on a strong sign of recovery in US housing sector. The Commerce Department said on Monday that sales of new homes rose by 11% in June. Earning news dominated the market in recent trading sessions with most of the reports beating the expectation.

Yesterday the Australian market closed higher led by resources sector as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the Chinese government will increase spending to boost the economy and achieve an 8% growth target this year. It raised the expectations that China's stimulus measures will prompt the demand for resources. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 22.1 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 3,188.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 22.9 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 3,148.8.

Australian share closed at their five-year low point. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 0.1%, or 4.1 points, at 3327.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index also fell 0.1%, or 3.5 points, at 3281.5.

Yesterday the Australian stock market fell sharply led by falls in Wall Street and the bleak local jobless data. Analysts expect worse to come after the ABS unemployment figure rose from 4.4% to 4.5% as the global economy further deteriorates this year. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 157.5 points, or 4.27 per cent, to 3,529.5 and the broader All Ordinaries index retreated 147.5 points, or 4.07 per cent, to 3,476.8.

Yesterday Australian shares closed lower as almost all sectors were down. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 35.2 points, or 0.98 per cent, at 3556.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 36.8 points, or 1.04 per cent, at 3,498.9 points. Telecom sector continued to lose on Telstra's failure to submit an adequate tender for the national broadband network.

Yesterday, the Australian market closed higher as the miners surged on rising commodities prices offsetting the slump dragged by Telstra after the government ruled out the company from the tender list for bidding on the national broadband network. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 share index ended the day 2.3% higher, or 81 points, at 3591.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 2.4%, or 83.2 points, to 3535.7. Traditionally the market would be quiet during this period with more focus on specific stocks rather than the market as a whole.

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.

On Thursday, the Australian share market closed higher for a fourth day with around 1.4 per cent stronger led by the big miners as commodities surged. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 48 points, or 1.36 per cent, at 3588, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 48.6 points, or 1.4 per cent, at 3528.2. Analysts said the market seems to be a little quiet with less participation, except for some fluctuation after BHP's decision of dumping its takeover bid for Rio Tinto.