Sydney, Oct 23, 2008 AEST (ABN Newswire) - US stocks dropped sharply to five-year lows overnight with an increasingly dire outlook for the global economy.
On Wednesday, Australian stocks fell again following a weak Wall Street lead, losing almost all of the gains from previous day. It was hurt by a fall in resources stocks on global recession fears and by disappointing US company earnings that stoked worries about the outlook for profit growth.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 146.4 points, or 3.4%, at 4156.1, while the broader All Ordinaries lost 131.3 points, or 3.09%, to 4120.01.
At 7.17am, the December Share Price Index futures contract on the Sydney Futures Exchange was down 191 points at 3968.
Today the Australian dollar opened marginally weaker as a 16 per cent plunge on the Argentine stock market turned traders off riskier currencies. At 0700 AEDT, the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.6681/85, down from yesterday's close of $US0.6687/92.
Crude oil prices plummeted after surging US energy reserves highlighted falling demand in a cooling global economy, and ahead of an OPEC financial crisis meeting. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December, skidded $US5.28 to close at $US66.90 a barrel.
Key Economic Facts and Figures
Inflation hit its highest level last quarter since 1995, but it's not expected to stop the Reserve Bank from cutting interest rates. The inflation rate for the September quarter hit 1.2 per cent, which took the yearly rate to 5 per cent, the largest annual increase since the December quarter in 1995.
Today, Treasurer Wayne Swan said: "In terms of inflation I think this is expected to be its peak, and we would hope to see it moderate over the year ahead." Economists said it was increasingly likely that the inflation data would force the Reserve Bank of Australia to make a smaller than expected interest rate cut next month.
JPMorgan also forecasts the unemployment will be at 9 per cent by late 2010, up from the current rate of 4.3 per cent.
The Housing Industry Association releases its HIA-Commonwealth Bank affordability report for the September quarter today.
M&A News
Allco Finance Group's (ASX:AFG) satellite fund, Allco HIT(ASX:AHI), has failed in its attempt to sell its stake in New Zealand property financier Strategic Finance(NZE:SFLHA), when Strategic's founders and management decided against a buy-out due to the weakening credit market.
Woolworths(ASX:WOW) said the company is cashed up and could afford to make more than one major acquisition. With the hardware sector one of the few markets Woolworths can enter without running into competition issues, the retailer has recently held discussions with the Mitre 10 chain. Rival Wesfarmers'(ASX:WES) Bunnings chain may also be of interest.
Important Corporate News
Macquarie Infrastructure Group(ASX:MIG) has forecast revenue and earnings growth in fiscal 2009, as the company increases the charges on its motorways. Toll revenue in the quarter to September rose 2.8% as the company raised tolls, which offset subdued traffic volumes during the period.
ANZ Banking Group Ltd(ASX:ANZ) has reported a 21 per cent fall in full year profit, after its bottom line was hit by charges related to the fall-out in global credit markets. Net profit for the year ended September 30 was A$3.319 billion, down from A$4.180 billion in fiscal 2007. Cash profit, which is adjusted for none-core items, was A$3.029 billion, down 23 per cent on the previous year.
Gaming firm Tabcorp Holdings Ltd(ASX:TAH) says it expects normalised first half results for fiscal 2009 to be modestly ahead of last year, providing trading conditions do not change materially. Tabcorp reported a normalised net profit before non-recurring items of A$261.9 million in fiscal 2008.
1. Related Stocks - Mid market (12:45 AESTD)
----------------------------------------------------------- Code % Change Volume Turnover Low High-----------------------------------------------------------ASX:AFG -7.69 675,864 $83,255 11.5 13.5ASX:WOW -.81 893,734 $24,114,323 2670 2711ASX:WES -2.59 1,257,694 $27,337,167 2081 2140ASX:MIG -4.3 3,034,449 $6,170,981 197 207ASX:ANZ -4.89 5,546,988 $100,429,968 1792 1847ASX:TAH -2.47 1,124,572 $7,974,888 700 730-----------------------------------------------------------
2. Top 10 ASX on Turnover - Mid Market (12:45 AESTD)
---------------------------------------------------------------- Code % Change Volume Turnover Low High----------------------------------------------------------------ASX:BHP -7.88 15,162,533 $382,808,364 2415 2523ASX:RIO -15.43 3,041,945 $202,677,778 6560 6710ASX:ANZ -4.89 5,546,988 $100,429,968 1792 1847ASX:NAB -.97 3,213,499 $81,307,137 2500 2570ASX:WBC -2.58 3,263,150 $70,963,768 2129 2211ASX:CBA -1.33 1,284,028 $53,615,344 4080 4185ASX:TLS 12,757,028 $51,687,786 401 409ASX:WDC -3.16 3,253,520 $49,618,015 1494 1560ASX:ORG +.12 2,675,037 $42,714,166 1570 1615ASX:CSL -1.69 1,174,168 $39,586,918 3305 3435----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact
Michelle Liang
Asia Business News Asia Bureau
Tel: +61-2-9247-4344
Email: michelle.Liang@abnnewswire.net
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