The Australian share market fell yesterday. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 87.4 points, or 1.75%, to 4980.1, while the broader All Ordinaries gave up 84.4 points, or 1.67%, to 5041.9. The resource stocks dropped again, with the commodity prices down.
Yesterday, the Australian share market closed slightly weaker despite a cut to official interest rates and a drop in the oil price. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 2.3 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 5,116, while the broader All Ordinaries fell five points, or 0.1 per cent, to 5,195. The Australian stock market may continue the decline today with US equities and commodities down overnight.
The Australian share market continued its losing streak yesterday, falling almost 1% after the financial sector fell on concerns about ANZ Bank's increased debt provisions. The biggest five banks have lost A$29.1 billion in market cap in two days, according to Bloomberg data. Australia's biggest banks may probably continue to suffer in the global economic gloom, while the bad news came amid another horror day for banking stocks.
The Australian share market fell over three per cent on Friday after troubling news from National Australia Bank (NAB) related to losses from investments in risky US mortgages, and a weak lead from Wall Street. But gains on US markets on Friday night are expected to encourage investors to pick up stocks that were oversold during Friday's 3 per cent fall.
Australian financial stocks is likely to continue gains on improved sentiment towards the sector in overseas markets, though weaker oil and metals prices may weigh on resource stocks. Analysts have cautioned that despite recent market gains, overall sentiment was still fragile and a further spike in energy prices or more bad news out of credit markets could trigger a fresh wave of selling.
Wall Street closed sharply higher overnight as another drop in oil prices improved investor sentiment. Wall Street staged a late rally after a mixed session, as a drop in oil prices helped to offset disappointing earnings reports from the likes of Apple and American Express. American Express reported second quarter earnings were below estimates and withdrew its full year earnings forecast.
Last night Wall Street led on easing concerns about a credit crisis, but gains are likely to be tempered by declines in mining and oil companies after oil, gold and base metals prices fell.
