Financial Services

The twin villains of Australian businesses in recent years - the high dollar and increased household savings - have saved the economy from overheating and spared consumers from outsized price hikes

US stocks have fallen for a second straight day as the Cyprus banking crisis sent jitters through markets.

The Australian dollar has closed flat, with the currency finding support despite fresh jitters from Europe stemming from a proposed Cyprus deposit levy.

The Australian share market lost two per cent as spooked investors sold off local stocks amid bailout plans for Cyprus.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes the challenge for this year's federal budget will be weaker revenues.

Australia's corporate regulator has proposed further rules on trading in dark pools, but described public concerns over high frequency trading as overstated.

The Australian market has fallen by almost 1.5 per cent due to concerns about a bailout of Cyprus and falls on Wall Street.

Hefty credit card surcharges could be on the way out after Visa became the first company to ban Australian retailers from slapping on the fees.

US markets have taken a needed pause after a relentless 10-day run, marked by the Dow setting new records for eight straight sessions.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, holding on to the gains made on Thursday after the release of stellar jobs figures.

The Australian share market bounced back on Friday as traders decided the economy is doing better than a preceding three-day run of losses would suggest.

Perth-based Addwealth Financial Services has lost its operating licence after failing to lodge independent compliance reports.

The banks involved in Australia's most expensive and longest-running court case have won the right to take their battle to the High Court.

The Australian share market has opened stronger after stocks in the United States posted their longest winning streak in more than 16 years.

The S&P 500 flirted with an all-time high Thursday as equity markets continued their upward march in the wake of strong labour data and bullish market sentiment.

The Australian dollar has closed at a five-week high after strong jobs data raised the prospect the central bank would leave interest rates unchanged in the period ahead.

The Australian share market finished more than one per cent lower after better than expected jobs data cut the chance of another interest rate cut.

The Australian share market has opened flat despite stocks in the United States posting their longest winning streak in more than 16 years.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new record closing for the seventh straight day Wednesday as US stocks registered small gains.

The Australian dollar is higher after the release of some encouraging consumer sentiment figures.

Businesses expect the pain of a high exchange rate to intensify over the coming year, with exporters saying they will respond by slashing their investment spending.

The Australian share market closed lower on Wednesday, dragged down by the four big banks.

The chances of more interest rate cuts have improved after home loan approvals fell in January.

The Australian share market has opened 0.4 per cent lower as the recent good run by global markets shows signs of fizzling out.

National Australia Bank plans to save about $800 million a year from new changes to its business that include a major reshuffle of its senior managers.

US stocks closed mostly lower on Tuesday in quiet trade, but the Dow squeezed out a sixth straight day of record-high closings.

The Australian share market finished lower due to falls in the resources sector.

The Australian share market has opened slightly stronger after US markets continued to climb to new highs.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent higher following gains on the New York stock market.

US stocks brushed off an early move toward a correction and added to the bull run, with the Dow setting a fresh record for the fifth straight day.

The Australian dollar has closed lower, drifting back towards 102 US cents as global markets poured back into the US dollar after a positive US jobs report.

The Australian share market finished more than 0.4 per cent higher following a wave of investor enthusiasm in Japan and the US.