Financial Services

Australian shares have opened higher following a positive night on global markets.

US stocks have risen amid a mixed bag of earnings reports, as investors punished underperforming companies while bidding the overall market higher.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as traders take profits after the currency's three-week rally.

Australian shares have finished higher, driven by strong gains among the big banks.

Australian shares are firmer as stronger demand for banking stocks offsets losses across the resources sector.

Perth-based miner Mirabela Nickel has been hit with a 'selective default' rating following a missed interest payment.

US stocks have ended lower, a decline that analysts have attributed to a mix of profit-taking and a couple of prominent earnings disappointments.

The Australian dollar is lower amid concerns about an apparent increase in bad debt in China.

Australian shares have fallen for the first time in seven trading sessions following a jump in China's money market rate.

Perth-based stockbroking firm Hartleys has largely maintained its profitability in challenging conditions - a feat that few, if any, of its competitors managed to achieve in the 2013 financial year

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says it is "almost inconceivable" the government's commission of audit will recommend tax increases.

The Australian share market has opened higher with investors confident the US central bank will continue its economic stimulus program following weaker-than-expected jobs figures.

The federal government is giving the Reserve Bank of Australia $8.8 billion to strengthen its ability to implement monetary policy and foreign exchange operations.

The Australian dollar is higher against a much weaker US dollar after the release of a disappointing US employment report.

US stocks have risen on generally solid corporate earnings and increased confidence after a weaker-than-expected jobs report that the US Federal Reserve will not soon scale back its stimulus progra

Australian shares have reached a fresh five and a half year high as the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton drove market gains.

Australian shares are firmer as rosier production figures from the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton helps boost the overall market.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as markets wait for the release of the US September employment data.

US stocks have ended little changed as investors took a breather after last week's hefty gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7.45 points (0.05 per cent) to 15,392.20.

The Australian share market has closed at a new five-and-a-half-year high, after US and European markets lifted at the end of last week as US government services were re-opened.

National Australia Bank has dropped to the bottom of the pack for satisfaction levels among business customers.

Australian stocks have jumped to fresh five-year highs in response to gains on global stock markets on Friday night.

From Saturday, 19th of October:On Tuesday markets were staring at a global economic debacle because of the US budget and debt ceiling showdown.

The Australian dollar has hit an almost five-month high, helped by some stronger Chinese economic growth figures for the September quarter.

Australia's share market has closed at the highest level since mid-2008 as China regains its economic growth pace.

For thousands of taxpayers, the annual chore of filling in a tax return could soon become redundant.

US investors have powered the S&P 500 to an all-time high, one day after Washington politicians reached a deal to reopen the government and avert a feared debt default.

The US political battle has taken its toll on the greenback, pushing the Australian dollar above 96 US cents.

The Australian sharemarket has lifted after US politicians voted to raise the debt ceiling of the world's biggest economy and reopen the government.

An 11th-hour deal to end the US government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling has sparked a strong rally on Wall Street, with gains of nearly 1.4 percent.

The Australian dollar has leapt a quarter of a US cent higher after US Senate leaders reached a last-minute deal that temporarily extends the debt ceiling and will reopen the government.

The share market recovered from opening losses to close slightly higher on cautious optimism US politicians will agree on a temporary deal to raise its debt ceiling.