Aust stocks close slightly lower - ninemsn Aust stocks close slightly lower - ninemsn

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Aust stocks close slightly lower - ninemsn

Aust stocks close slightly lower - ninemsn

The Australian share market closed slightly lower as Asian markets rallied and concerns about Greece's future in the euro zone eased temporarily.

On Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dipped 8.1 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 4,157.4 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index dropped 6.2 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 4,208.5 points.

On the ASX 24, the June share price index futures contract was one point higher at 4,160 points, on volume of 40,793 contracts.

City Index chief market analyst Peter Esho said the Australian market had not performed too badly and that Asian markets were trading in positive territory during Thursday's session.

"There's been a bit of a shift towards optimism," he said.

"We've seen some steep losses recently, and maybe there's a case for things to bounce a little bit."

Mr Esho said investors still had Greece on their minds but at least that country was headed towards new elections.

Locally in the resources sector, global miner BHP Billiton was 28 cents higher at $32.77 as it turned its back on a silver, lead and zinc joint-venture project in north Queensland amid doubts over its potential.

Rio Tinto advanced 17 cents to $58.16.

Coalworks was steady at $1.02 as it stepped up its calls for shareholders to reject a $142 million takeover offer as well as a separate bid to dump its chairman and chief executive.

Among the major banks, Commonwealth Bank lost 75 cents to $51.02 as it announced a cash profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $1.75 billion, from $1.7 billion in the prior corresponding period.

Westpac sagged 46 cents to $21.22, ANZ dipped four cents to $21.57 and National Australia Bank retreated five cents to $24.35.

Elsewhere in the financial services sector, Insurance Australia Group added four cents to $3.38 after it said it would review its business in the United Kingdom for a possible sale.

Among other stocks, the owner of Sydney's Star casino, Echo Entertainment, nudged up one cent to $4.43 as it welcomed a report clearing the casino of wrongdoing over its investigation of sexual harassment claims against former boss Sid Vaikunta.

Construction giant Leighton Holdings was up 13 cents at $18.05, and appointed an external consultant to review its disclosure procedures after breaching laws earlier this year.

Building materials producer Adelaide Brighton was down two cents at $2.89 after it said it expected sales to improve slightly in 2012, but challenges remain because of weak construction activity.

The price of gold in Sydney closed at $US1,544.85 per fine ounce, up $US12.16 from $US1,532.69 on Wednesday.

Gold miner Newcrest was up 31 cents at $24.11.

Market turnover was 1.91 billion shares worth $5.13 billion, with 461 stocks up, 482 down and 399 unchanged.



Europe Stocks Drop as ECB Pauses Greek Loans - Businessweek

European stocks dropped for a fourth day after the region’s central bank paused lending to some Greek banks and the Federal Reserve signaled the American economy may need further stimulus. U.S. index futures and Asian shares rose.

Markets in Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are among those closed for the Ascension holiday today.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) declined 0.3 percent to 243.73 at 8:25 a.m. in London. The gauge has lost 3.3 percent in the last four sessions, erasing this year’s gains, as mounting concern that Greece will leave the euro area offset better-than- estimated reports on U.S. housing starts and industrial production. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.3 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index rallied 0.7 percent.

The European Central Bank said it will temporarily stop lending to some Greek banks to limit its risk as President Mario Draghi signaled the ECB won’t compromise on key principles to keep Greece in the euro area.

The Frankfurt-based ECB said yesterday it will push the responsibility for lending to some Greek financial institutions onto the Greek central bank until they have sufficiently boosted their capital. “Once the recapitalization process is finalized, and we expect this to be finalized soon, the banks will regain access to standard Eurosystem refinancing operations,” the ECB said in an emailed statement.

U.S. Economy

Several members of the Federal Open Market Committee said new actions could be necessary if the economy loses momentum or “downside risks to the forecast became great enough,” according to minutes of the FOMC’s April meeting released yesterday in Washington.

The U.S. Labor Department may report today that first-time claims for unemployment insurance fell by another 2,000 last week to 365,000, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists.

Greece is heading toward national elections six weeks after the last vote, with its international bailout at stake.

Panagiotis Pikrammenos, head of Greece’s Council of State, the highest administrative court, was sworn in as head of the caretaker administration yesterday. The formal announcement of the election date, probably June 17, will be made after the new parliament is sworn in today and then dissolved.

Spain will today try to show investors it can keep funding itself as yields approach levels that pushed other nations into bailouts and foreign investors shun the country’s bonds.

The nation will seek to sell 1.5 billion euros ($1.9 billion) to 2.5 billion euros of bonds maturing in 2015 and 2016. Spanish 10-year bond yields rose as high as 6.5 percent yesterday, approaching the 7 percent mark that pushed Greece, Ireland and Portugal toward European rescue packages.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tom Stoukas in Athens at astoukas@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at arummer@bloomberg.net



Rare Earth Metal Stocks Proving Their Investment Worth in Online Article - YAHOO!

Rare earth metals stocks are potential winners in the investment game, thanks to the information inside Absolute Wealth's "Rare Earth Riches."

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 17, 2012

Rare earth metal stocks in this critical time of booming production and record-high demands represent some of the best investing opportunities of this generation, said today’s AbsoluteWealth.com article. Never before has a pound of dirt been so valuable. As long as it’s rich in rare earth metals, dirt is currently going for an unimaginable $3 million a ton.

Countries are pitting themselves against each other for the priceless rare earth metal resources. Current technologies, like the cellular, satellite, and battery industries, are using rare earths at an alarming rate, the article said. As a result, the growing extraction and production processes are setting the stage for a major market shift.

The article said with the help of the experts at Absolute Wealth, investors are learning the potential in the current situation, and cashing in as a result.

The Independent Wealth Alliance, Absolute Wealth’s subscription program, has released a Special Report that explains the scenario, with China playing the role of villain as it limits its rare earth exports to the rest of the world. “Rare Earth Riches: How to Cash In On China’s ‘Dirty’ Secret” is available now to IWA members.

Absolute Wealth is an expert team of real investors and advisors devoted to identifying winning strategies for exceptional returns. Members subscribe to the Independent Wealth Alliance for professional investment analysis and recommendations on the latest trends and progressions. For more, visit AbsoluteWealth.com.

Since China supplies 90% of the world’s rare earth metals, cell phone and flat screen manufacturers aren’t the only ones missing out, the article said.

Rare earth metals are used in a wide array of military applications, and the Special Report describes them in detail. Unfortunately, so many governments are reliant on China that it has turned into a national security issue, said the article.

The good news is rare earth mining companies stocks are in great position to be scooped up and, according to the article, potentially win big returns for smart investors who catch on to the trend. The Special Report from Absolute Wealth was compiled using some of the most knowledgeable experts on rare earths, and how they are affecting the trading markets.

More than 137 hours went into researching “Rare Earth Riches,” and it is condensed into immediately actionable plans that will guide investors towards high profit potential, said the article. For the most informative insider tips and expert enlightenment on the best rare earth metal stocks, consult the Special Report from the Independent Wealth Alliance.

Paul Norwine
AW Research Publishing, LLC
512-892-3022
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