US equity markets suffered one of their poorest weeks of 2013 ending Friday, tumbling on the back of uninspiring economic data and troubling earnings reports from Walmart and other retailers.
ANZ made a $4.7 billion profit for the nine months to June, an increase of 7 per cent.The bank said the result was driven by revenue growth and productivity gains.
The Australian dollar has firmed after Japan's economics minister, Akira Amari, said Australia's second largest trading partner was halfway out of deflation.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia has posted a record $7.68 billion full-year profit.CBA's net profit for the year to June 30 was up 8 per cent from $7.09 billion in the previous year.
The Australian dollar is lower after the greenback was boosted by positive US retail sales data that sustained speculation the US Federal Reserve will begin tapering soon.
US stocks have closed in positive territory as corporate raider Carl Icahn revealed a large stake in Apple, sending the technology titan 4.8 per cent higher.
The Australian share market has hit a three month high, with investors buoyed by positive local earnings performances potential stimulus measures in Japan.
Perth-based bank machine distributor Ezeatm has begun legal proceedings against its former boss and co-founder, Todd Zani, who was ousted from the company in June.
The departments of Treasury and Finance expect the federal budget deficit to be $30.1 billion in 2013/14, unchanged from the government's own forecast.
The Australian dollar is being weighed down by strength in the greenback amid renewed expectations that the US Federal Reserve will begin tapering its economic stimulus program soon.