Stock Market & Financial News - Trading Room

Oil prices fall amid weak crude demand

Oil prices slipped on Friday as demand for crude remained fragile despite increased signs of a global economic recovery, dealers said.

Factoring can improve cash flow: analyst

Businesses can still improve their cash flow adequately or fund acquisitions despite the tightness of credit markets, an analyst says.

Steve Madden in voluntary administration

US shoe retailer Steve Madden has appointed voluntary administrators to its Australian operations.

Import price drop aids tamer inflation

Expectations that the annual rate of inflation is set to fall below the Reserve Bank of Australia's target band have been backed by a drop in import price data.

Court hears about Timbercorp projects

The Supreme Court of Victoria has heard from several parties who are prepared to participate in the continued operation of projects formerly run by Timbercorp.

Elders slashes profit guidance again

Elders Ltd has again slashed its earnings guidance after its timber-plantation subsidiary Forest Enterprises Australia reported that it would post a loss.

Huge rise in friends buying joint homes

Australians are ignoring warnings that they should avoid entering into joint property ownership with friends or family, a lender says.

Australian reports

• Aust markets: Aussie shares inch higher
• Aust dollar report: Australian dollar closes higher
• Aust credit close: Aussie bonds close mixed

World reports

• World commodities: Oil prices close mixed
• World markets: Markets rally on Wall Street gains

Stocks to watch

AVO, DIO, CXC, PEM, MCW, RIO, SUN,

Wall Street sinks in wave of earnings reports

NEW YORK, July 17 AFP 00:25AM US stocks fell on Friday as investors digested a batch of better-than-expected earnings reports and braced for a likely big bank bankruptcy.

Hong Kong shares set to rally

HONG KONG, July 17 AFP 9:58PM Hong Kong share prices are set to rise to their highest level of the year next week, supported by a rebounding Chinese economy and better-than-expected corporate results from the U...

Italy reports massive drop in May payments deficit

MILAN, July 17 AFP 9:24PM Italy achieved a massive reduction in a deficit on its current payments balance in May to E422 million ($A741.65 million) from E6.316 billion ($A11.1 billion) 12 months earlier, th...

Tokyo investors to eye earnings next week: analysts

TOKYO, July 17 AFP 9:29PM Tokyo investors will be scouring US earnings reports next week in the hope of finding more signs that corporate America is clawing out of its slump, dealers said Friday.

GE reports 49-pct slump in quarterly net profit

WASHINGTON, July 17 AFP 9:21PM US energy giant General Electric announced a 49 per cent drop in second-quarter net profit on Friday to $US2.68 billion ($A3.33 billion).

Oil prices fall amid weak crude demand

LONDON, July 17 AFP 9:00PM Oil prices slipped on Friday as demand for crude remained fragile despite increased signs of a global economic recovery, dealers said.

Perth businessman one of two Australians killed in Indon

PERTH, July 17 AAP 8:28PM Perth businessman Nathan Verity is believed

Japanese shares closed up 0.55 per cent

TOKYO, July 17 AFP 7:48PM Japanese share prices rose 0.55 per cent on Friday after stocks rallied for a fourth straight day on Wall Street, although many investors refrained from buying ahead of a three-day...

Australians feared killed in Jakarta bombings

CANBERRA, July 17 AAP 7:45PM Trade official Craig Senger is believed to be among two Australians feared killed in the deadly bomb blasts that rocked two Jakarta hotels on Friday, claiming at least eight lives.

Hong Kong shares close up 2.42 per cent

HONG KONG, July 17 AFP 7:23PM Hong Kong share prices closed 2.42 per cent higher on Friday, boosted by robust economic data from China and better-than-expected corporate results from the US, dealers said.