Bonds/Interest Rates

A brief look at important company events and economic data releases next week.

Positive earnings and economic data sent the S&P 500 soaring through the Lehman breakdown level at 1200 last night. Dow up 103.

Macquarie notes a sharp drop off in sales of electronic goods while Merrill Lynch downgrades all food retailers.

A big beat from Intel after the bell sets Wall Street up for a positive session tonight, following a choppy session last night. Dow up 13.

NAB’s Monthly Business Survey for March showed a strong lift in business conditions and still strong confidence levels, causing the bank to lift its growth forecasts for the Oz economy.

The RBA may have to change the way it approaches interest rates given the dominance of the booming resource states over the sluggish southern states.

Economist responses to the latest data releases and anticipated monetary policy impact. Housing finance demand in Australia falls again.

A wrap of events affecting the market on Friday night and the weekend and a preview of the week ahead.

Surging same-store sales diverted attention away from Greece last night allowing Wall Street to recover from negative into positive. Dow up 29.

Australian labour force data for March met market expectations with a 19,600 rise in jobs and unemployment unchanged at 5.3%.