FAQ

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (stock ticker code: XMJ) encompasses a wide range of commodity-related manufacturing industries. Included in this sector are companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products and related packaging products, and metals, minerals and mining companies, including producers of steel.

The S&P/ASX 200 Telecommunications Services Index (stock ticker code: XTJ) contains companies that provide communications services primarily through a fixed-line, cellular, wireless, high bandwidth and/or fiber optic cable network.

The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (stock ticker code: XUJ) encompasses those companies considered to be electric, gas or water utilities, or companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power.

Here is a reference list of ticker codes for indices listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Stock Market Index Codes from S&P (Standard & Poors). From these codes you can look up the index charts, data and other relevant sharemarket information.

Have you ever wondered who is responsible for the rise of gold prices? As a matter of fact there is no one responsible to set prices for gold. The price of gold is actually set by that of free markets, as this happens in a way to equalize supply and demand. In cases where demand exceeds supplies, prices are going to increase, and with the prices of gold going up, demand lessens when compared to the supply.

What will be your initial reaction if you come across a trading headline that reads 20% return above cash rate guaranteed: Would you invest? Of course, you might want to know the company which is behind the offer even before venturing to invest on the offer made. To make an investment that promises returns in the 20% above the Australian interest rate - guaranteed, the quintessential feature an investor should be looking for is the creditworthiness of the establishment floating the offer, as in the case of WBC which reeks of rich credentials, coming with such an offer.

Financial News Networks like CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox can be bad for traders but also can be helpful to traders. These financial news networks can provide informative reports about the forecast of share prices, dividends, and other relevant information. However, blindly following recommendations from these news networks can be bad for traders.

Investors want share prices to go up, so the capital value of their stock portfolio increases. Share price rises in stocks are also appreciated by share traders who are trading long, individuals who have superannuation or own a portfolio of shares. And if they've followed the basic rule of buying low and selling high, they would easily gain a profit from their share trading or an increased portfolio value. Having the share price go up is great for investors as it allows them to follow the basic maxim of buying low and selling high.

The ASX Top 100 companies reporting season timetable occurs within about two months after the conclusion of half yearly and annual reports. So you’ll find many companies reporting their profits and losses annually around July/August and January/February. Where can you find out when a company will report their half yearly results? You can do so via press releases on their website or on the ASX website or via Australian Financial Review.

Many investors in the stock market have come to hear of the term 'yield curve'. This term actually is used to denote the relationship between the cost of borrowing or the interest rate and the time or term of maturity of a certain debt instrument in a particular currency.

Traders in the different markets closely watches the US dollar interest rates paid on US Treasury securities in varying maturities by plotting them on a graph known as the yield curve. Any movements in rates and maturities of US Treasury securities as plotted by the yield curve will impact on stock markets worldwide.