Financial Services

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.

Australian shares closed firmer after encouraging comments by US politicians about avoiding the "fiscal cliff".

The Australian market is slightly higher after US politicians indicated they were willing to work together to ensure the economy didn't fall off the "fiscal cliff".

US stocks scored solid gains on Wednesday, spurred by encouraging remarks by politicians on averting looming tax hikes and spending cuts that could harm the economy.

The Australian dollar is lower after trading in a tight range on uncertainties around Greece's bailout deal and concerns about the US fiscal cliff.

Former prime minster Paul Keating says compulsory superannuation contributions may have to rise to 15 per cent to meet a looming blowout in the cost of caring for Australia's ageing population.

 The Australian market closed slightly lower, amid renewed scepticism about the Greek bailout deal and avoiding the US fiscal cliff.

The days of Australian banks posting returns on equity of 20 per cent or more are long gone, says Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly.

Australian stocks have opened weaker, with declines among mining-related sectors leading the broader market lower

US stocks have closed lower as fiscal cliff worries overshadow encouraging US economic data and investors shrug off Greece's revised bailout deal.

The Australian dollar has risen on news that European finance ministers have reached a deal on Greek bailout funds.

Economic data over the next few days will not only flesh out expectations for next week's national accounts, but also whether the central bank will cut the cash rate again.

The Australian share market has closed firmer as a Greek debt deal and stronger full-year profit guidance from vaccine maker CSL injected confidence.

Would-be homebuyers should take heart from the latest survey showing a steady increase in housing affordability in all states.

Australian stocks have opened firmer in quiet trading conditions as market players wait for the latest developments over Greece and the US budget.

Strong gains by Apple, Facebook and other key tech stocks sent the Nasdaq exchange higher on Monday while the Dow and S&P 500 sagged.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent higher ahead of a key European meeting to decide on a bailout package for Greece.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher as investors await more movement on addressing Greece's debt and the so-called fiscal cliff in the United States.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has used parliamentary question time to raise the achievements of the Labor government after five years of power, saying it has been endorsed by the International Monetary Fund

Australia's big banks have actually helped competition in the mortgage market by refusing to pass on rate cuts in full, a new report says.

After spending much of the year as one of the strongest performing stocks on the ASX, Sirius Resources has become one of its most volatile.

The federal government should abandon plans to increase the compulsory superannuation guarantee for workers, an independent think tank says.