InvestSMART - Shares Guide

Weekly Market Outlook

The focus is on the Australian market today as local investors wait and see just how much of a rate cut the RBA will deliver. A 25 basis point rate cut is expected, however there are some analysts that believe a 50 basis point cut is not unreasonable.

Today will also see US employment and manufacturing data, European and UK PMI figures from Friday and UK industrial production numbers from Monday night. We'll also have a rate decision from the Bank of Japan.

Wednesday starts with the minutes from the US Federal Open Market Committee's last meeting and US consumer credit numbers. Locally, we've got consumer confidence, housing finance and investment lending numbers adding a bit of insight into the rate decision the day before.

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In the Spotlight

Fluorotechnics Limited

Fluorotechnics specialises in the discovery, development and sale of high-margin tools that are a cornerstone of the growing life science industry. Its products are used on a daily basis by life scientists in areas such as research, diagnostics, quality control and biosecurity and have a strongly growing market that is estimated at US$2 billion.

Unlike many companies in the life sciences arena, Fluorotechnics is already selling innovative consumables, having primarily completed the research phase of its technology.

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Company	Closing date	Floating date	Issue price
Beta Pharmaceutical Limited	-	14/10/2008	$0.25
Hampton Mining Limited	-	-	$0.35
Handini Resources Limited	14/08/2008	10/09/2008	$0.50
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Company	Update	Current price	Brokers	Buy, Hold, Sell	Research report
AGL Energy Limited	3/10/2008	$13.50	10	Hold
ASX Limited	3/10/2008	$30.19	10	Hold
Boral Limited	3/10/2008	$6.12	10	Hold
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Company	Date of change	Quantity	Change Type	Research report
Spitfire Resources Limited (SPI)	3/10/2008	19,491	Acquired	-
Australian Ethical Investment Limited (AEF)	3/10/2008	168	Disposed	-
Clime Investment Management Ltd (CIW)	3/10/2008	20,000	Acquired	-
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Company	Comment	Dividend per share	Franking	Ex-dividend date	Payment date
Sylvastate Limited (SYL)	2008 Final Year Result	10.5 ¢	100%	8/10/2008	28/10/2008
Vealls Limited (VELIN)	2008 Final Year Result	4.7 ¢	0%	9/10/2008	31/10/2008
Vealls Limited (VELCP)	2008 Final Year Result	0.5 ¢	0%	9/10/2008	31/10/2008
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Opal Horizon Limited

Opal Horizon Limited is an advanced precious opal mining and exploration company raising capital for the purposes of mining current discoveries, evaluating other recent discoveries, and expansion of overseas wholesale markets.
Offer ends: 24/10/2008

Great rate-cut debate misses the point

Sydney Morning Herald 7/10/2008 | Smoke hangs thick in the air as the long-range artillery commanders survey the scene. The job is done, the target softened. It's now time for the ground assault.

Global credit crunch has streamlined Suncorp searching for its day in the sun

The Age 7/10/2008 | HOW can you unscramble an omelette?

Suncorp welcomes bank suitors

Sydney Morning Herald 7/10/2008 | SUNCORP Metway will push ahead with a formal sales process for its banking and wealth management arm following an approach for the businesses in recent days from three of the nation's biggest banks.

Dollar dives to two-year low as sharemarket s 3.3%

The Age 7/10/2008 | THE dollar has fallen to a two-year low, following in the footsteps of the sharemarket - which is at its lowest in almost three years.

Shares plunge to three-year low

Sydney Morning Herald 7/10/2008 | THE Reserve Bank board meets today amid deepening market pessimism about the health of the global economy, which is battering Australia's sharemarket and currency.

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