US stocks have finished the trading session lower, pausing after a strong start to the week, as investors digested the latest round of corporate earnings and looked for signs of progress toward a peace deal between the US and Iran.
The Dow has closed at a record high on signs of progress for a peace deal with Iran while the Nasdaq registered its first decline in five sessions as SpaceX and AMD stumbled following their quarterly earnings.
The S&P 500 and the Dow have closed at record highs, powered by the latest batch of earnings from AI-related companies such as Caterpillar and Palantir that assuaged demand concerns while crude prices and Treasury yields dropped on hopes for a deal in the Iran war.
Australia's share market is narrowing on its record high as easing oil prices and confidence in a strong earnings season for heavily weighted sectors bolster risk sentiment.
Key costs for Australian small businesses have climbed by 24.6 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research by AMP Bank Go.
US stocks have kicked off August on a strong note to send the Dow Industrials to a closing record high as signs of de-escalating US-Iran tensions pulled down oil prices and Treasury yields in a busy week for earnings and economic data.
The ASX has started the week on a positive footing after hopes of US-Iran peace talks lifted risk sentiment, while iron ore prices fell to 13-month lows.
Wall Street has ended higher, lifted by Amazon as the tech heavyweight's strong quarterly report bolstered investor confidence in AI-related stocks, while Apple dropped after its results disappointed investors.
Australian shares have posted a fourth straight month of gains, but a final session rally largely crumbled as investors took profits ahead of a historically weak period for the exchange.
Wall Street has ended sharply higher, with chip stocks jumping and Microsoft logging its biggest daily percentage gain in 18 years after the technology giant gave a stellar forecast that eased fears about massive spending on AI infrastructure.
Australian shares have crumbled from four-month highs, as surging US bond yields and renewed oil volatility overshadowed a recently softening local interest rate outlook.
Wall Street ended sharply lower after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, with AI-related chip stocks adding to recent declines ahead of quarterly reports from Microsoft and Meta Platforms and the Nasdaq 100 index marking an 11 per cent drop from its June record high.
Australia's share market has surged to its highest value in almost four months, as investors dismissed an August interest rate rise after inflation undercut forecasts.
The S&P 500 has ended higher as gains in Boeing and Coca-Cola helped offset tumbling chip stocks ahead of quarterly reports from Apple and other tech companies this week.
Wall Street has ended mixed as investors awaited guidance from major technology companies in a busy week for quarterly earnings, while also worrying that stubbornly high oil prices could force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
The Australian stock market has had its best session since mid-June after oil prices retreated on reports Iran and the US have halted fighting after almost two weeks of air strikes.
Stung by the Rudd-Gillard government's collapse, Anthony Albanese and Labor figures made a show of projecting unity in a "very managed" national conference.
