Share Market Wrap – ASX Shares Daily Recap

All news bad news for QAN and VBA airline shares

Airlines have long had a reputation of being difficult to make a buck out of. Even Warren Buffett, the ultimate investing guru, dropped 75 per cent on an investment in airlines. Buffett famously once said of the first flight by the Wright Brothers: “If there had been a capitalist down there, the guy would have shot down Wilbur. One small step for mankind, and one huge step for capitalism.” So why is the airline business so tough?

Falling nickel prices to hit MRE and MBN shares

The falling price of nickel has obviously hit nickel shares over the last six months and the outlook for this part of the Australian share market sounds gloomier still according to analysts. Nickel prices have always been seen as a key indicator of the state of global economic growth. Like copper, demand for nickel is driven mainly by industrial applications.

Are the doomsayers right? Is the Aussie market heading lower?

The Aussie sharemarket fell more than two per cent on Thursday in its worst fall in over a year. It’s no wonder that local investors are starting to wonder whether we are heading back into the dark days of the 2008 bear market. However, looking with a more long-term focus, it seems that we are currently just in the middle of another typical pullback.

AJ Lucas AJL shares latest mining services disappointment

After our recent discussion of Leighton Holdings LEI shares, the woes for the engineering and mining services sector just keeps coming with another profit warning from AJ Lucas (AJL). From an outsider’s perspective, running a mining services company should be a license to print money. So why have they been such disappointments?

Why are the hedge funds attacking Aussie banks?

There have been plenty of rumours lately that the hedge funds have hit the market and are selling the banks. Like always, it’s important to take most media commentary with a grain of salt. Of course, there’s every reason for hedge funds to short sell Australian banks. And they have, to an extent.

BlueScope Steel BSL shares facing tough times

BlueScope Steel has been trading at its lowest levels ever this week. The shares are currently hovering around $1.45 – that’s down about 90% from the 2007 highs above $12 per share. There’s a stack of reasons for BSL shares to be struggling. We barely know where to start.

Can Australian technology shares provide profits?

Australian IT shares have never provided much joy for local investors. The certainly don’t provide the kind of consistent returns of mining shares, bank shares or blue chip shares. There are a number of also-runs in the sector and investors have had to be quick to make a buck. Share market beginners need to be aware that technology stocks can be a minefield.

Bank & Mining Shares To Drive Australian Shares Higher in 2011

Bank & Mining Shares To Drive Australian Shares Higher in 2011

Tough year, last year. The Australian share market finished about three per cent lower for the year ­- and that’s only the third time in 16 years the local market…