Financial Services

A surprise slide in the US unemployment rate to 7.7 per cent for November gave markets an initial boost on Friday, but shares ended the session mixed.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, enjoying support following a busy week of economic data releases, most of which were quite good.

The Australian market closed at a seven-week high, with across-the-board gains aided by strong overseas leads.

Updated stockmarket indices announced today have highlighted the rising fortunes of telco iiNet and junior miner Papillon Resources, in sharp contrast to the falling value of uranium miner Paladin

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains with the big banks and miners all higher in early trade.

US stocks finished in positive territory on Thursday after circling the breakeven line for much of the session, with a mild rebound by volatile Apple buoying the Nasdaq for a 0.5 per cent gain.

The Australian dollar had a brief rally after the release of encouraging jobs figures, but negativity about the US budget situation prevented it from rising to 105 US cents.

Australian stocks finished slightly weaker today, with the market lacking direction despite an unexpected fall in Australia's unemployment rate.

Profits for the major banks will stagnate in 2013 and the weakening economy will cause a rise in bad debt charges, ratings agency Moody's says.

The Australian market opened slightly higher after budget talks in Washington indicated that US politicians were willing to compromise to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff".

US stocks closed mostly higher on Wednesday after some upbeat data on the huge services sector, but market chatter about Apple's prospects sent it tumbling 6.4 per cent, weighing on the tech-rich N

The Australian dollar was almost three-quarters of a US cent higher after economic growth figures came in broadly as expected.

Australian shares finished firmer as investors sought high-yielding bank stocks following this week's official interest rate cut.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with banking stocks among the better performers in early trade.

US stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday as Washington continued to wrangle over a budget plan that would avoid the year-end "fiscal cliff."

The Australian dollar is higher after rallying on the back of the central bank's interest rate cut.

The Australian share market closed more than half a per cent lower after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate to three per cent amid a weak global growth outlook.

Major banks are under pressure to deliver some Christmas cheer in the form of cheaper mortgages after the Reserve Bank returned its cash rate to record low levels.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says the cash-rate cut shows the government has no plan to deal with the deterioration in the Australian economy.

Australian stocks have opened flat, as local market players await a likely interest rate cut from the central bank.

US stock markets started December in the red on Monday after poor data on the manufacturing sector added to worries about the year-end onslaught of federal tax increases and spending cuts.

The Australian dollar is almost a third of a US cent lower after the release of weaker than expected retail trade data.

The Australian share market finished half a per cent higher as investors were buoyed by encouraging data about Chinese manufacturing and expectations of an interest rate cut by the local central ba

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with gains among mining-related companies among the early highlights in quiet trading conditions.

US stocks took a jump in the last 15 minutes of trade on Friday to end mostly in the black, with little hard news to direct trade as talks in Washington over a fix to the fiscal cliff continued.

The Australian dollar is lower, on increased expectations of a rate cut from the central bank next week.

Cash Converters has announced a $32.7 million share placement to acquire franchise stores, open new corporate locations and finance its Australian and UK personal loans business.

Australian stocks climbed today, driven by the major miners on the back of strong commodity prices.

Australian households could get an early Christmas present in the form of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia - but it will be a close call.

The Australian market has opened higher, led by gains for the mining giants and optimism about the US economy.

US stocks have closed higher, helped by an expected strong upward revision in the US economic growth estimate for the third quarter.

The Australian dollar is higher as traders shrugged off a weaker domestic capital expenditure outlook and focused on positive comments about US debt negotiations.