The market is up 56. The Dow Jones finished up 89 after making a high of 127 early on in the session.

The White House has revised its 2013 economic growth forecast down from 2.3% to 2.0%. US consumer credit was $19.5 billion in May, up from $10.9 billion in April ,beating the forecast of $12.2 billion.

US 10-year bond yield was down 11bpts to 2.64%.

Best sectors — energy, consumer discretionary, utilities, consumer staples, financials. Worst sectors — technology, telecom.

European markets up — UK FTSE up 1.17%, Germany up 2.08%, France up 1.86%, Spain up 1.90%, Italy up 1.71%, Greece up 2.32%. Germany’s industrial production was -1.0% in May down from +2.0% in April and missing the forecast of -0.5%. Germany’s balance of trade was 13.1 billion euros, down form 18.1 billion euros, beating the forecast of 17.6 billion euros.

Metals down – Copper down 1.44%, Nickel down 1.13%, Aluminium down 1.39%, Zinc down 2.48%. Spot iron ore down 70c to $121.90. Gold was up $22.20 to $1234.90.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & STORIES

  • Chinese CPI was up 2.7% in June, up from a 2.1% rise in May and faster than the 2.5% rise expected by economists. Producer prices fell 2.6% in June, after a 2.9% fall in May.
  • NAB Business Confidence — The index fell from -4 to -8 last month making a 4 year low. NAB says the weakness in the index together with a slowdown in Chinese growth, weaker terms of trade and volatility in financial markets has prompted them to move forward their next cash rate cut forecast from November to August.
  • Yancoal (YAL) – China’s Yanzhou Coal Mining Company is looking to privatise Yancoal. The company has received a privatisation proposal from its parent company. Yanzhou owns 78% of Yancoal, whose IPO in June 2012 following a merger with Gloucester Coal. Under the proposal – Shareholders would exchange their holdings for Yanzhou securities. YAL is up 7.14% to 75c.
  • AluminaLimited (AWC) — Is up 3% after US Alcoa reported a second-quarter loss of $US119 million, which slightly beat Wall Street expectations. The company stuck to its forecast of 7% growth in global aluminium demand this year.
  • Bank of Queensland (BOQ 893c) — Could have its credit rating increased within months, which would mark a turnaround since posting the first loss by an Aussie bank in more than 20 years. Standard & Poor’s have placed the bank’s BBB+ rating on creditwatch positive which means there is a 50% chance it could be upgraded one level. UBS has upgraded its recommendation to buy from neutral with a target price of 970c. The broker likes the management changes and turnaround that has occurred. BOQ is up 1.23% to 904c.
  • Citigroup hs downgraded Seek Limited (SEK 931c) to a sell recommendation from a neutral with a target price of 875c. It has reassessed its valuation post yesterday’s weaker-than-expected ANZ jobs ads. They expect the job market to remain weak going forward and the target price is down 55c. JP Morgan have an Underweight recommendation with a target price of 756c. Looking relatively expensive on a PE of 20.4x, gross yield of 3.50% and ROE of 23%. SEK is down 2.42% to 909c.
  • Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (BEN 1012c) — Intends to increase its investment in margin lending, which indicates a recovery in a sector that has been in the doldrums since the GFC. Margin lending in the past has been a problem for the bank as it triggered a $95m writedown last year. Standard & Poor’s has reaffirmed the bank’s A- credit rating with a stable outlook. UBS has upgraded to buy from neutral with a target price of 1000c. BEN is up 1.98% to 1032c.