Shareswatch Australia

At the moment there is so much confusion across the global markets that is makes me less reluctant to take long term positions. One day we see Chinese trade data which appears good, but there are questions about its reliability. Over in the U.S the economy appears to be improving, but what will happen when the Fed starts to wind back quantitative easing measures? Meanwhile in Japan, Abenomics is shaking up the markets and there is considerable pressure on leaders across the EU to ease up on austerity measures.

The Australian stock market has posted some good gains recently with the ASX All Ordinaries Index and S&P/ASX 200 Index both closing above 5100 yesterday. Instead of the markets showing some weakness as I expected, they appear to be rallying even despite falls in commodities prices and warning signs that the Chinese economy may start to slow again. This makes it difficult to get a feel for where the markets might be heading and economic stimulus measures in the United States, China and Japan complicate the outlook even further.

Since mid last year, the Australian stock market has staged a fairly impressive rally with the ASX All Ordinaries Index moving from a decidedly bearish level of down near 4000 to a bull market level of just under 5200 points. But of late the market has slipped back which will worry some investors, while others see this a simply a pause before the rally upwards continues.

WorleyParsons Ltd (ASX: WOR), in line with a recent theme, announced–on the same day it revealed results for the first half of fiscal 2013–a new contract award, this one to provide engineering services at the Fort Hills oil sands project. The work, which will begin immediately, will generate AUD140 million of revenue for WorleyParsons. Fort Hills is jointly owned by Suncor Energy Inc (TSX: SU, NYSE: SU), Total SA (France: FP, NYSE: TOT) and Teck Resources Ltd (TSX: TCK/B, NYSE: TCK).

Once again it is time to dust off the crystal ball, stick a finger in the air and toss some chicken bones over my shoulder in a vain attempt to forecast what the Australian stock market will do in 2013.  Last year the ASX All Ordinaries and S&P/ASX 200 posted respectable gains, but will they do so again this year?

The Australian stock market closed up again today with the ASX All Ordinaries Index finishing at 4550.90 points – a rise of 0.82% for the day.  The last couple of months have been generally kind to Australian stocks but we need to keep this recent stock market movement in perspective.

The apparent end of the biggest resource boom in a century in Australia, occasionally called China’s commodity quarry, has drawn downbeat forecasts from politicians and analysts, but there are some indications that signal all is not over for the lucky country.

The Australian stock market has been as exciting to watch over the last month as a Julia Gillard speech.  Over a few days stocks grind out modest gains and then when bad news roll in, the gains are basically given up and the market slides back down again. But if we scratch under the surface and look at some candlestick charts these may help us understand what is driving this type of share market trading.

The last month or so has been quite a ride for Australian stock market investors with the ASX All Ordinaries Index falling from around 4500 points to around 4000 points.  The continuing economic woes in Europe, the economic slowdown in China and the stagnant U.S economy have worked to drag the share market down as have signs that the Australian domestic economy is showing signs of weakness.

Last week was a glittering week for diamonds. As preparations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were underway in London, the Martian Pink, a 12.04 carat diamond, went under the hammer at a record HK$135 million (US$17 million) at a Christie’s Hong Kong jewellery sale.