The Australian stocks market was slightly lower in early trade, while Wall Street delivered a flat lead overnight. Yesterday the local market posted a strong gain of 1.2 per cent, led by materials and energy stocks.
The Australian share market Tuesday resumed trading after a long weekend and started nearly no change. Overnight the US stocks closed slightly lower despite strong economic data from Europe and upbeat comments from a Federal Reserve official helped to support much of the session. However, the market sentiment was dented after credit rating agency Moody's lowered its rating on Greece's debt to "junk" status.
The Australian shares continue to suffer a stock market downturn caused by debt crisis in Europe. Yesterday the Australian market closed nearly unchanged in a day of fluctuating trade. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index Wednesday shed more than 1.5 per cent in early trade after Wall Street resumed its slide on a surprise move by Germany to restrict some financial transactions against banks.
The Australian stock market opened sharply lower on Monday led by material sector. European bourses broadly tumbled on Friday as European governments' deep spending cuts increased worries over the region's economies. The negative sentiment also spreads through Wall Street and Asian Markets. The Australia's S&P/ASX200 index Monday fell approximately 1.8 per cent in early trade. In economics news today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases lending finance data for March.
Egyptian Resorts Company (CAI:EGTS), Egypt's leading master developer of mega communities, announced today its consolidated results for the first quarter of 2010, reporting a net loss of EGP 2.9 million on revenues of EGP 4.4 million. By comparison, ERC reported profit of EGP 9.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 on revenues of EGP 6.7 million, bolstered by lower depreciation charges and substantial foreign exchange gains. Profits in the quarter just ended were impacted by both a 34.3% drop in revenue and a sharp 675% rise in depreciation costs to EGP 3.2 million on the back of infrastructure and network assets capitalized last year.
The Australian market opened modestly higher today ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision. Material and mining shares continued their losing streak in early trade due to the mining tax concerns. But Wall Street's solid gains overnight helped to support the Australian shares with improving US economic data.
Egyptian Resorts Company (CAI:EGTS), Egypt's largest master developer of mega resort communities, and Orascom Development Holding (SIX: ODHN:SW) announced today that they had concluded an agreement under which Orascom Development and Management (ODM), a subsidiary of global powerhouse Orascom Development Holding (ODH), will manage the development of the Marina at Sahl Hasheesh.
