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The Australian share market finished almost unchanged on Tuesday as weakness in resources stocks offset gains in the banking sector. Asian markets were lower yesterday ahead of testimony by US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index edged up 0.8 points or 0.02 per cent, at 4718.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index had slipped 1.7 points, or 0.04 per cent, lower to 4731.

Dow index hit a fresh 2009 high on Friday after the earnings season kicked off. Upbeat forecasts on IT giants IBM and Intel fueled the market's growing expectations over a profit recovery. S&P's 500 and Nasdaq both gained more than 4.5 per cent for the week.

Wall Street continued its gains for a fifth day on Thursday on some upbeat economic data and corporate guidance. The Commerce Department's report showed a sign of consumer spending pickup as US trade volume and imports surged. A separate report said jobless claims fell to 550,000 in the past week.

Overnight Wall Street was up on economic data, positive earnings and the nomination of Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke to serve a second term. The Conference Board's August index of consumer confidence rose for a second month, exceeding economists' forecast.

Australian stocks surged massively yesterday following a rally on Wall Street. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 jumped 129.6 points, or 3.5 per cent, at 3867.1, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 120.8 points, or 3.2 per cent, to 3858.8 points. The gains in overseas markets are likely to continue bolstering the Australian shares as the US earnings reports released in the first week restored some market confidence.

Yesterday the Australian shares closed lower. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 56.6 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 3737.5 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 52.6 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 3738 points. Analysts expect the market remained quiet until investors the corporate earnings bolster their confidence.

The Australian shares closed flat Thursday as the market was awaiting more US corporate financial results. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 4.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 3763.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index also lost 4.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 3761.4 points. The market sentiment was buoyed by the better-than-expected jobs data released yesterday.

The Australian market yesterday closed flat as traders were cautious about the economic outlook. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose one point, or 0.03 per cent, at 3767.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index declined 1.8 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 3766.0 points. Today investors' focus would be the unemployment rate released by ABS.

Yesterday the Australian shares market appeared to be decoupled from Wall Street. The local shares shrugged off the bad lead of US stocks and finished firmer with rising in all sub-sectors, as traders put more of their attention to the local news. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 2%, or 74.8 points, at 3743, while the broader All Ordinaries surged 1.9%, or 68.6 points, at 3695.8.

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.