The Australian share market finished stronger near a 22-month high, as investors reacted positively to economic data from China indicating a rebound in activity.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has poured cold water on hopes banks will go it alone in 2013 and reduce lending rates without further official rate cuts.
US stocks rebounded from early sharp losses but finished down Thursday amid some earnings disappointments while Apple jumped after it said it was reviewing ways to return some of its $137 billion c
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is pressuring the coalition over its superannuation plans, even though Labor has declined to guarantee it won't change the treatment of retirement savings.
The Australian share market has closed higher on the back of a positive lead from the United States market and the prospect of a cut to interest rates.
Retail and housing industry groups have questioned the central bank's decision to leave the official cash rate unchanged at its first board meeting of the year.
The Australian share market pared back early losses to finish lower for the second consecutive day as weaker global markets weighed on local sentiment.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to keep its finger off the interest rates trigger when it meets for its first board meeting of the calendar year today.
US stocks have closed sharply lower as signs of political instability in Italy and Spain renewed worries about the the eurozone's long-running public debt crisis.
US markets pushed tantalisingly close to new records last week, a stunning rebound after the steep crash of 2008 wiped trillions of dollars of wealth from Americans' pocketbooks and retirement acco
US stocks have finished lower, with BlackBerry maker Research in Motion losing 5.8 per cent after launching a new operating system and Dow Chemical sagging nearly 7 per cent on a quarterly loss.
