Financial Services

 The Australian share market has opened higher.

US stocks have closed modestly lower after data unexpectedly showed the economy shrank in the fourth quarter last year and the Federal Reserve maintained its loose monetary policy.

The Australian dollar has edged slightly higher ahead of a key meeting of the US central bank.

The Australian share market pulled back in late trading but still closed slightly higher, with investors unfazed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing that the next federal election would be o

Westpac is raising $500 million through the issue of hybrid securities to investors to strengthen its capital position.

Gains by major resources companies have led the Australian share market slightly higher, extending nine days of gains.

Demand for credit is on the rise for the first time in a year but it's too early to talk of a turnaround in consumer spending.

US stocks have scored mostly solid gains after a batch of better-than-expected company earnings, but Yahoo! and cloud computing group VMware weighed on the Nasdaq.

The Australian dollar has closed the day higher, after a monthly survey suggested confidence among Aussie businesses was on the upswing.

The Australian share market has closed higher, with investors encouraged by the recent strength of global markets.

Australians appear to be swapping credit for savings, with a recent study showing intention for taking on debt at a three-year low.

Australian business confidence rebounded in December following an interest rate cut and positive developments in the US and China.

The Australian share market has opened higher for a ninth straight day, despite substantial falls among insurers due to the flood and storm crisis on the east coast.

US construction equipment group Caterpillar has posted a 15 per cent rise in 2012 net profit, but that was below market expectations owing in large part to a charge of million that arose from acco

US stocks have finished mostly lower despite a stronger-than-expected manufactured durable goods report and a nearly 2 per cent lift from Caterpillar earnings.

The Australian share market closed half a percentage point higher as investors chased higher yielding financial stocks.

Clients of financial advisers will find it easier to determine if they are getting value for money under new guidelines issued by the corporate watchdog.

The Australian share market has opened higher, with sentiment still positive after encouraging economic data from China and the United States.

Apple's shares have plunged more than 12 per cent after its earnings disappointment, but the Dow has held up in positive territory with help from airline stocks.

The Australian dollar has fallen almost half a US cent cent despite a positive reading for Chinese manufacturing.

The Australian market is flat in early trade despite strong earnings results in the US leading to overnight gains on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is higher after weaker-than-expected national consumer price index figures and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its economic forecast for Europe.

Buoyed by strong earnings results in the technology sector and progress in the Washington fiscal budget debate, US stocks have closed higher.

The Australian dollar has maintained a strong position after weaker-than-expected inflation data which could clear the way for a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) rate cut.

The Australian market is higher after mining giant BHP Billiton's half-year production report exceeded expectations and following strong leads from the US.

US stocks have shaken off weak housing sales data and jumped on the strength of some buoyant earnings reports.

The Australian dollar is higher, after Japan's central bank announced an expansion of its monetary stimulus plans.

The Australian dollar has rallied against its US counterpart after Japan's central bank announced new measures aimed at lifting the world's third largest nation economy out of a long period of defl

The Australian share market has closed flat as investors gave a muted response to the Bank of Japan's plan for a more expansionary two per cent inflation target.

The Australian share market is trading marginally higher as investors wait to see if the Bank of Japan will move to stimulate the Japanese economy.

The Australian market has opened slightly higher as investors await the outcome of a Bank of Japan policy meeting.

 Shares in Macmahon Holdings have soared more than 15 per cent after the mining contractor sealed a $1.8 billion deal with Fortescue Metals Group.