The market is down 18. The SFE Futures were up 8 this morning.

Dow Jones up 163. The Dow closed on its highs (up 165 at best) on a volatile day. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president Charles Evans has said he would support measures to generate further jobs growth building market hopes for another round of Quantitative Easing. US imports fell 1% in May, the largest fall in almost 2 years thanks to a drop in the Energy component (oil imports sliding away as they are substituted with gas production). Fitch downgraded another 18 Spanish banks on analysis of the bank bailout. Italian GDP in the last Q was -0.8% and -0.4% YonY. Base metals on the LME were mostly lower with Zinc down 1.05%, Lead down 1.01% and Tin up 0.97%. Gold was up $13.70 to $1610. Oil up 70c from its eight month lows to $83.40. The Aussie dollar is back up to 99.67c. Spanish 10 year bonds yields jumped again to 6.71%. Italian bond yield also up 14bp overnight to 6.17%. European markets were mostly higher — the UK’s FTSE index up 0.76% and the German DAX up 0.33%. Italy was down 0.70.

Main points:

  • WBC/MI Consumer Sentiment Index rose only slightly by 0.3% to 95.6 index points. WBC says the result was disappointing the RBA rate cuts.
  • Computershare (CPU) expects a non-cash pre-tax statutory impairment charge on their Continental European business in the 2nd H12 in the range of US$55m-US$65m. The charge comes after European financial instability reduced earnings and growth expectations and the company had to write down the value of their European intangible assets. CPU is up 1.7% to 777c.
  • Whitehaven Coal (WHC) says they have received a non binding privatisation offer from Nathan Tinkler’s unlisted Tinkler Group. WHC confirmed the offer and said it was still at a very early stage. Mr Tinkler has a 21.4% stake in the company. WHC is up 7.25% to 428c.
  • Seek (SEK) has pulled plans to raise $125m, through the issue of a subordinated note, which was to repay debt and fund investment. The company believes it did not reach acceptable terms and the raising was not in the best interest of their shareholders. SEK is down 4.05% to 640c.
  • Sundance Resources (SDL) has raised $40m via an equity raising. The placement was to institutions at 35c per new share which will be used to fund the development of their Mbalam Project. SDL is down 8% to 34.5c.
  • NAB has sold $1.25bn 5 year unsecured bonds with a 2% coupon. The bonds are 100% backed by Aussie residential mortgages.
  • Echo Entertainment (EGP) has revealed Macquarie as a new substantial shareholder with a 5.1% stake. EGP is in a trading halt till Monday 18th pending a capital raising.
  • PPI and CPI in the US tonight – the falling oil price likely to keep inflation subdued. Retail sales could mark a negative number on a fall in auto sales.

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