The Australian share market fell sharply Wednesday after led by mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as metals prices dropped. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended down 69.8 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 4648.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 65.1 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 4665.9.

Australian shares gave up early gains after disappointing trade numbers from China raised concerns that Chinese economy is cooling. The market closed slightly higher as earnings reports from market heavyweights BHP Billiton and Commonwealth Bank helped the rise. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 8.3 points higher, or 0.2 per cent, at 4513.4. The broader All Ordinaries index rose 12.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 4533.

The Australian sharemarket closed lower on Tuesday led by financial stocks as investors were nervous ahead of earnings reports by US banks. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index lost 49.9 points, or 1 per cent at 4861.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 46.5 points, or 1 per cent, at 4889.6.

US shares fell overnight led by Wells Fargo. A late sell-off in financial stocks was triggered after an analyst cut his investment rating on the company, saying the quality of its earnings was pretty poor. The Federal Reserve's latest beige book, showing weak consumer spending during late summer, also weighed down the market.

Overnight US stocks rose for a fourth consecutive session led by industrial stocks. But market sentiment were dented after Federal Reserve report showed that consumer spending was still soft and retail sales were flat. The report also said labour market conditions remained weak across all districts.

Wall Street overnight ended the losing streak and edged higher after the better-than-expected retail sales data. The good sales data in August to some extent eased the concerns over the key US employment gauge which is scheduled to release on Friday.

US stocks fell overnight ahead of the Federal Reserve's latest decision on monetary policy and guidance on the outlook for recovery from the recession. The market was also weighed down by the worries that the banking sector has yet to fundamentally improve.

Wall Street closed at a nine-month high overnight boosted by earnings reports and encouraging economic data in US manufacturing activity and new car sales. Energy and materials companies also broadly lifted the market.

Wall Street ended the last trading session of July with a positive note on Friday. The Dow increased 0.86% for the week and 8.58% for the month thanks for the better-than-expected earnings reports. The US government reported on Friday that gross domestic product declined by 1% in the second quarter, while economists had expected that number to be around 1.5%. The result gave investors stronger confidence that the worst recession since the Great Depression is likely coming to an end.

Australian stocks surged massively yesterday following a rally on Wall Street. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 jumped 129.6 points, or 3.5 per cent, at 3867.1, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 120.8 points, or 3.2 per cent, to 3858.8 points. The gains in overseas markets are likely to continue bolstering the Australian shares as the US earnings reports released in the first week restored some market confidence.