Financial Services

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, despite a survey showing weak business confidence, and ahead of a meeting of the US central bank.

The Australian market closed at its highest level for 2012, with stronger commodity prices led to gains for the mining giants.

Australian firms are heading into Christmas on a pessimistic note, with business confidence slumping to its lowest point since the global financial crisis.

Keeping inflation in check is important to maintain steady economic growth, but it is not enough, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens says.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with the major miners leading the broader market on track to close at a fresh high for calendar 2012.

US stocks ended slightly higher on Monday amid hopes that a political deal over the looming fiscal cliff was in the works.

Investors who jump into the sharemarket in December might just get an early christmas present - if history is any guide.

The Australian dollar is unchanged after weak Chinese trade data reduced earlier gains made on strong US job numbers.

The Australian stock market has closed marginally higher as upbeat Chinese data helped to sustain the momentum of the market.

Weaker-than-expected housing loan figures suggest the Reserve Bank of Australia may need to cut the cash rate further in 2013.

The Australian market has opened flat as trading volumes start to thin out heading into the festive season.

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.