daytrading nov 11 afternoon

Thanks Endless.

Half-time round-up:

The share market hit its highest level of the month before surrendering gains as the banks and BHP turned negative and Chinese shares retreated.

At lunchtime the ASX 200 was down 11 points or 0.2% at 5389 after earlier hitting 5439, a level last seen on October 31. IT +0.9% was the best of the sectors, followed by consumer discretionary +0.5% and health +0.2%. The financials sector was off 0.6%, gold 1.6%, telecoms 0.7% and utilities 0.4%.

The dollar started the week nearly a cent lower against the greenback as traders bet that the US Federal Reserve will reduce its inflationary stimulus program in the next few months. The Aussie was buying 93.85 US cents, down from 94.65 cents on Friday.

Asian markets were mixed despite the release of solid Chinese economic numbers over the weekend. Chinese property developers were hit by a report of new sales restrictions. Read more here. The Shanghai Composite slipped 0.42%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.18% and Japan's Nikkei added 1.18%. Dow futures were recently down 17 points or 0.1%.

Crude oil futures bounced 44 cents this morning to US$94.79 a barrel after western nuclear negotiations with Iran broke down over the weekend. Spot gold slipped another $3.90 to US$1,285.60 an ounce.


Been a bearish morning for anyone who could see further than PAB. Not that there's anything wrong with PAB - cleared a few points there myself. Meanwhile the index keeps rejecting 5440. The longer this goes on, the more momentum it will take to clear it. Possibly international money selling the ASX this morning on the weaker outlook for the AUD? China obviously not helping. Besides PAB I had a first look at CWE, result as yet inconclusive.