MIDDAY REPORT
(12.45pm AEST)
Today, the Australian share market followed the lead of the US
and European markets higher, with the gains in oil and gold
helping the material sector run higher in early trade. By
lunchtime the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) had held on to early
gains up 28 points to 4,436 points.
Overnight the better than expected manufacturing data out from
Europe and the US boosted sentiment and helped investors push
aside concerns over Eurozone unemployment which hit a new record
high of 11.4%.
The focus of the 2nd half of today's trading session will be the
outcomes from the Reserve Bank of Australia (
RBA
) October board meeting and interest rate decision. The money
market is still factoring in a 66% chance of a 25 basis point or
¼ or 1% cut today. Most market analysts are expecting the
overnight cash rate to stay at 3.5% in October and the RBA to cut
in November at its Cup day meeting.
Today the S&P/ASX 200 Materials sector added 0.85% by lunch
after gains in industrial metal miners including the steel sector
and gold stocks. Overnight base metals on the London Metals
Exchange (LME) gained across the board helping BHP Billiton
Limited (
BHP
) build on its solid run again this morning up another 0.88% to
$33.41. Rio Tinto (
RIO
) was one of the weaker performers in the mining sector only up
by 0.42% in early trade to $53.58. Australia's third biggest iron
ore miner, Fortescue Metals (FMG) was place in a trading halt
before the start of trade today. Fortescue (FMG) chairman Andrew
Forrest today won his High Court challenge against ASIC over
claims he mislead shareholders over mine developments. FMG's
share price last traded at $3.50.
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