Australian Market Slightly Higher

RTTNews | 309 days ago

(RTTNews) - The Australian stock market is slightly higher on Monday, extending the gains in the previous session, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 staying a tad above the 7,200 level, following the broadly positive cues from global markets on Friday, with miners pushing the market higher amid improved commodity prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index is gaining 6.70 points or 0.09 percent to 7,210.00, after touching a high of 7,221.20 earlier. The broader All Ordinaries Index is up 7.20 points or 0.10 percent to 7,418.70. Australian stocks closed slightly higher on Friday.

Among the major miners, BHP Group and Rio Tinto are edging up 0.2 to 0.3 percent each, while Mineral Resources is gaining almost 2 percent. Fortescue Metals is flat.

Oil stocks are mixed. Santos and Woodside Energy are edging down 0.1 percent each, while Beach energy is gaining almost 1 percent. Origin Energy is flat.

Among tech stocks, Xero is losing more than 1 percent and WiseTech Global is declining almost 2 percent, while Appen is edging up 0.4 percent and Afterpay owner Block is gaining more than 2 percent. Zip is flat.

Gold miners are mostly higher. Gold Road Resources, Evolution Mining, Northern Star Resources and Newcrest Mining are gaining more than 2 percent each, while Resolute Mining is adding more than 1 percent.

Among the big four banks, Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank are edging down 0.3 percent each, while Westpac and ANZ Banking are flat.

In other news, share in United Malt Group are surging more than 9 percent after the malt producer agreed to a A$1.5 billion takeover offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo.

Shares in Australian Vintage are soaring more than 10 percent after the winemaker hired corporate advisory firm E&P for a strategic review of its $100 million business.

In economic news, the manufacturing sector in Australia continued to contract in June, and at a faster pace, the latest survey from Judo Bank revealed on Monday with a manufacturing PMI score of 48.2. That's down from 48.4 in May and it moves further beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

In the currency market, the Aussie dollar is trading at $0.665 on Monday.

On Wall Street, stocks moved sharply higher during trading on Friday, adding to the gains posted in Thursday's session. The major averages all moved to the upside on the day, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading the advance.

The major averages pulled back off their best levels going into the close but held on to strong gains. The Nasdaq surged 196.59 points or 1.5 percent to 13,787.92, the S&P 500 jumped 53.94 points or 1.2 percent to 4,450.38 and the Dow climbed 285.18 points or 0.8 percent to 34,407.60.

The major European markets also showed strong moves to the upside on the day. While the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index advanced by 0.8 percent, the French CAC 40 Index jumped by 1.2 percent and the German DAX Index surged by 1.3 percent.

Crude oil prices climbed higher Friday, extending recent gains, as a drop in U.S. crude inventories continued to support the commodity. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for August ended higher by $0.78 or 1.1 percent at $70.64 a barrel. However, WTI Crude futures shed about 12 percent in the first half and more than 6 percent in the second quarter.

Taiwan Bourse Tipped To Open In The Green

The Taiwan stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, gathering more than 300 points or 1.5 percent in that span. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now sits just above the 20,520-point plateau and it's likely to extend its gains on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on renewed optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were firmly higher and the Asian markets are predicted to open in similar fashion. The TSE finished sharply higher on Monday following gains from the financial shares, technology stocks and cement companies. For the day, the index jumped 192.99 points or 0.95 percent to finish at 20,523.31 after trading between 20,479.80 and 20,639.90. Among the actives, Cathay Financial collected 1.39 percent, while Mega Financial soared 2.75 percent, CTBC Financial surged 3.88 percent, First Financial jumped 1.82 percent, Fubon Financial rallied 1.45 percent, E Sun Financial spiked 1.81 percent, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company improved 0.77 percent, United Microelectronics Corporation added 0.58 percent, Hon Hai Precision skyrocketed 7.37 percent, Largan Precision strengthened 1.58 percent, MediaTek shed 0.48 percent, Delta Electronics retreated 1.68 percent, Novatek Microelectronics perked 0.16 percent, Formosa Plastics climbed 1.02 percent, Nan Ya Plastics gained 1.58 percent, Asia Cement advanced 1.25 percent, Taiwan Cement accelerated 1.85 percent, China Steel added 0.60 percent and Catcher Technology was unchanged. The lead from Wall Street is broadly positive as the major averages opened higher on Monday and remained firmly in the green throughout the trading day.

RTTNews | 4h 5min ago

Singapore Stock Market May Find Additional Support On Tuesday

The Singapore stock market rebounded on Monday, one session after ending the three-day winning streak in which it had risen more than 15 points or 0.5 percent. The Straits Times Index now rests just above the 3,300-point plateau and it may add to its winnings on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on renewed optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were firmly higher and the Asian markets are predicted to open in similar fashion. The STI finished modestly higher on Monday following gains from the financial shares, property stocks and industrial issues. For the day, the index gained 10.26 points or 0.31 percent to finish at 3,303.19 after trading between 3,292.03 and 3,307.92. Among the actives, CapitaLand Investment spiked 1.92 percent, while City Developments advanced 0.67 percent, Comfort DelGro fell 0.17 percent, DBS Group collected 0.48 percent, Genting Singapore dropped 0.56 percent, Hongkong Land jumped 1.54 percent, Keppel DC REIT surged 2.98 percent, Keppel Ltd rose 0.15 percent, Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust accelerated 1.64 percent, Mapletree Industrial Trust climbed 0.92 percent, Mapletree Logistics Trust soared 2.96 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation eased 0.07 percent, SATS slumped 0.78 percent, Seatrium Limited retreated 1.09 percent, SembCorp Industries added 0.38 percent, Singapore Technologies Engineering shed 0.25 percent, Venture Corporation tumbled 1.45 percent, Wilmar International sank 0.31 percent, Yangzijiang Financial rallied 1.56 percent and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Thai Beverage, SingTel and Emperador were unchanged.

RTTNews | 4h 35min ago

Win Streak May Continue For Malaysia Stock Market

The Malaysia stock market has moved higher in three straight sessions, gathering more than 20 points or 1.4 percent in that span. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just beneath the 1,600-point plateau and it's tipped to open in the green again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on renewed optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were firmly higher and the Asian markets are predicted to open in similar fashion. The KLCI finished modestly higher on Monday following gains from the financial shares and mixed performances from the plantations and telecoms. For the day, the index added 7.80 points or 0.49 percent to finish at 1,597.39 after trading between 1,591.17 and 1,598.26. Among the actives, Axiata skidded 1.04 percent, while Celcomdigi and Tenaga Nasional both added 0.49 percent, CIMB Group jumped 1.50 percent, Genting fell 0.22 percent, Genting Malaysia sank 0.38 percent, IHH Healthcare was up 0.16 percent, IOI Corporation retreated 1.47 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong dipped 0.17 percent, Maxis shed 0.28 percent, Maybank collected 0.31 percent, MISC eased 0.12 percent, MRDIY rallied 1.19 percent, PPB Group lost 0.25 percent, Press Metal perked 0.19 percent, Public Bank spiked 1.94 percent, QL Resources advanced 0.61 percent, RHB Capital climbed 0.74 percent, Sime Darby tumbled 1.74 percent, Sime Darby Plantations gained 0.23 percent, Telekom Malaysia slid 0.16 percent, YTL Corporation soared 2.45 percent, YTL Power surged 2.51 percent and Petronas Chemicals, Hong Leong Bank and AMMB Holdings were unchanged.

RTTNews | 5h 5min ago

South Korea Shares Due For Support On Tuesday

Ahead of Monday's holiday for Children's Day, the South Korea stock market had ended lower in two straight sessions, slipping more than 15 points or 0.6 percent in that span. The KOSPI now sits just above the 2,675-point plateau although it figures to stop the bleeding on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on renewed optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were firmly higher and the Asian markets are predicted to open in similar fashion. The KOSPI finished slightly lower on Friday as losses from the technology stocks and automobile companies were mitigated by support from the financial sector. For the day, the index lost 7.02 points or 0.26 percent to finish at the daily low of at 2,676.63 after peaking at 2,705.26. Volume was 329.8 million shares worth 7.7 trillion won. There were 477 decliners and 390 gainers. Among the actives, Shinhan Financial rallied 1.42 percent, while KB Financial jumped 1.94 percent, Hana Financial collected 1.75 percent, Samsung Electronics shed 0.51 percent, Samsung SDI retreated 1.24 percent, LG Electronics advanced 0.98 percent, SK Hynix fell 0.23 percent, Naver soared 3.07 percent, LG Chem was down 0.37 percent, Lotte Chemical strengthened 1.59 percent, S-Oil rose 0.29 percent, SK Innovation added 0.55 percent, POSCO climbed 1.13 percent, SK Telecom slid 0.39 percent, KEPCO lost 0.47 percent, Hyundai Motor plunged 3.21 percent, Kia Motors plummeted 4.77 percent and Hyundai Mobis was unchanged.

RTTNews | 5h 35min ago

TSX Ends Higher For 3rd Straight Day

The Canadian market ended sharply higher on Monday, extending gains to a third straight session, thanks to firm commodity prices and rising optimism about interest rate cuts by several central banks, including the Federal Reserve and the Bank of India, by the later part of the second quarter, or early third quarter.

RTTNews | 6h 29min ago

Australia Interest Rate Decision Due On Tuesday

The Reserve Bank of Australia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The RBA is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 4.35 percent.

RTTNews | 6h 35min ago

Dollar Drifts Lower On Rate Cut Bets

The U.S. dollar shed ground against its major counterparts on Monday with investors growing increasingly confident about a rate cut in the coming months.

RTTNews | 7h 19min ago

Canadian Market Up Sharply, Looks Headed For Buoyant Close

The Canadian market is up firmly in positive territory Monday afternoon with stocks from several sectors posting strong gains thanks to sustained buying support amid rising hopes of interest rate cuts by several central banks, including the Fed, European Central Bank and the Bank of Canada.

RTTNews | 9h 49min ago

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