The Australian shares Wednesday continued to decline in early trade, led by financial stocks. Overnight Wall Street closed lower in a choppy trade as investors wobbled on Europe's debt issues despite the upbeat US economic data. Meanwhile, declines energy sector weighed on US stocks, after the US government said it was starting civil and criminal investigations on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The Australian share market was higher in early trade today despite Wall Street delivered a weak lead. Overnight US stocks reversed strong gains to close lower on worries over Euro amid the lingering Europe debt crisis. The newly released OECD economic outlook, predicting strong economic growth, has supported the local market today.
AMP Ltd (ASX:AMP) says it is still interested in acquiring the AXA Asia Pacific Holdings' (ASX:AXA) Australia and New Zealand business while the Australian competition watchdog did not block its proposal.
The Australian stock market has opened stronger led by financial shares, as Wall Street rebounded after investors reassessed the potential effects of the fraud case against Goldman Sachs. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index and the broader All Ordinaries index both were up 0.5 per cent in early trade.
Wall Street Tuesday posted modest gains following the report on the upbeat consumer confidence and home prices data. Technology stocks were also supported by news that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was developing a new iPhone. Yesterday Asian markets closed mostly higher. This week investors are also looking to the US nonfarm payroll data and expecting an improving labour market. Japanese stocks broadly gained led by steel makers. Nikkei rose 1 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.7 per cent while China's Shanghai Composite added 0.2 per cent. South Korea's Kospi increased 0.5 per cent.
Asian shares are set for a weak start on Monday after US markets fell on lower commodities prices and Greek debt concerns. Japanese market today is closed for Vernal Equinox Day. Most Asian markets gained on Friday. Japan's Nikkei index rose 0.8 per cent while weakness in yen boosted exporters. China's Shanghai Composite was also higher, with Alunimium Corp of China surged 10 per cent on Friday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.2 per cent and South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.7 per cent.
Asian markets are set to deliver a positive start on Wednesday. US stocks rose to a fresh 17-month high overnight as the US Federal Reserve acknowledged the U.S. economy was gaining momentum and reiterated that the central bank will keep interest rates low for an extended period. Yesterday Asian shares closed mixed ahead of Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan's policy meetings. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.3 per cent after three-day gains; however, China's Shanghai Composite rebounded from falls in previous two sessions. Hong Kong market shed 0.3 per cent as coal mining shares were hurt by China Shenhua's disappointing earnings.
