Financial Markets, Stocks & Commodities

Australian reports

• Aust markets: Tax agreement ends losses for shares
• Aust dollar report: $A ends higher on tax compromise
• Aust credit close: Bonds close weaker on tax compromise

World reports

• World commodities: Oil prices fall on weak US data
• World markets: US stocks fall amid bad economic news

Stocks to watch

RIO, BHP, FMG, WPL, STO, ORG, AOE, AQA, DOW, FXJ, TFC, WCB,

Australian stocks open over 1pct lower

The market opened over one per cent lower as investors digested more negative US economic data and uncertainty reigned over the outcome of the federal election.

Sigma agrees $900m sale to Aspen

Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd has agreed to sell its pharmaceuticals division to Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd for $900 million.

Leighton expects further profit growth

Construction giant Leighton Holdings reports a 39 per cent rise in annual profit and forecasts further growth as economic conditions improve.

Aust stocks open over 1pct lower

AAP 10:50AM Bell Potter Securities Ltd senior client adviser, Stuart Smith, said the local market was following the overnight futures lower as "extremist" views of global growth were publicise...

Aust stocks open over 1pct lower

AAP 10:30AM S&P/ASX200 -50.3 4409.3 Dow Jones -16.80 10303.15

Japan's growth slows in April-June quart

TOKYO, Aug 16 AFP 10:38AM Japan's economy saw slower quarterly economic growth in the April-June period with an annualised pace of 0.4 per cent, government data showed on Monday.