June 2024

US stocks edged lower on Friday as investors processed new economic data indicating a slowdown in inflation and better-than-expected consumer sentiment figures. The market also wrapped up a robust first half of 2024. The S&P 500 decreased by 0.41 per cent, closing at 5,460.48, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.71 per cent, finishing at 17,732.60. […]

And now there are five, the so-called Magnificent Seven having dropped a couple of amigos on the way to driving Wall Street to a 14% plus gain in the six months to June 28. Friday saw the Dow down 45.20 points, or 0.12%, to 39,118.86; the S&P 500 was off 22.39 points, or 0.41%, at

Oil prices start the new month, quarter, and financial year today on the back foot after a soft end to June. The outlook remains clouded by worries about the situation in Middle East hot spots and the strength of global demand, with the US, EU, Japan, and China all facing possible economic slowdowns that may

Happy new financial year in Australia, and happy new quarter elsewhere. There is more drama from the French elections on Sunday and the UK polls this Thursday. Thursday is a holiday in the US—Independence Day—with all American markets closed. There are the usual start-of-month data drops, especially US jobs figures on Friday, and anticipation for

This week will see some important data and decisions emerge that will tell us a lot about the health of the global EV market and the strength of the auto transition. The results of talks between China and the EU on proposed tariffs on Chinese-sourced electric vehicles will be the important announcement this week for

Dr Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist at AMP, discusses developments in investment markets over the past week, economic activity trackers, major global economic events and Australian economic events. Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets mostly fell over the last week. US shares were down 0.1% being

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has approved ANZ’s (ASX:ANZ) purchase of Suncorp’s (ASX:SUN) banking arm for $4.9 billion. The decision clears the way for the biggest merger in banking since the Commonwealth Bank acquired the struggling Bankwest during the global financial crisis in 2008, and Westpac bought St. George at the same time. ANZ chief executive

The slowdown in US economic growth in the first months of the year was confirmed overnight Thursday by the third and final estimate of GDP for the March quarter. Growth was estimated at an annual rate of just 1.4%—better than the 1.3% estimate in the first two estimates but well down from the 3.4% annual

Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) continues its patient expansion in the WA gold industry, putting a medium-sized boot on smaller rival Spartan Resources (ASX:SPR). In a move this week, Ramelius revealed it had taken an 8.9% stake in Spartan but added that it has “no current intention to acquire control or make a takeover” of the smaller

Markets continued to drift as investors stay on the sideline ahead of key inflation data due out on Friday US time. The S&P 500 just managed to finish in positive territory closing up 0.09 per cent. The Nasdaq closed 0.30 per cent higher, while the Dow Jones closed 0.09 per cent higher. Turning to US