Financial Services

The Australian share market has finished lower as concern about Chinese growth dragged down material and industrial stocks.

The Australian sharemarket has opened more than three-quarters of a per cent lower after data showed that US manufacturing had contracted for the third straight month.

Concerns about the global economy have prompted the Australian dollar to fall more than half a US cent, reversing its rally following the Australian reserve bank's decision to keep the official int

US stocks have closed mixed after a key report showed the third straight monthly contraction in the manufacturing sector, a key engine behind the economy's still-sluggish recovery.

The Australian dollar has climbed closer to 103 US cents after the central bank suggested interest rates could remain unchanged for the remainder of the year.

Australian stocks have slid more than half a per cent, as falls among the big retail banks pushed the broader market lower.

Police & Nurses Mutual Banking says it is confident of growth in 2013 despite lodging a dip in profit in difficult trading conditions over the 2012 financial yaer.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the cash rate unchanged at 3.5 per cent for the third board meeting in a row.

Australian shares have opened flat due to a lack of direction from the US after Wall Street was closed for a public holiday.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to keep its official interest rate on hold when its board meets later this morning.

Europe's main stock markets have risen amid growing hopes the European Central Bank could unveil a bond-buying program later this week, while investors digested poor manufacturing data.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a fresh five-week low on concerns about global growth.

The Australian share market has finished slightly higher, as investors positioned themselves ahead of key announcements from overseas.

National Australia Bank shareholders are being urged to join a class action relating to its 2008 heavy losses over toxic US subprime home loans.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a fresh six-week low after the release of weaker-than-expected retail data.

Australian stocks have opened weaker, as disappointing Chinese economic data and a slew of companies that started trading without a dividend pushed the market lower.

US stock markets got a good bump on Friday from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's much-awaited endorsement of more stimulus action, but still ended lower on a week of lacklustre end-of-summer

Falling iron ore prices helped push the Australian dollar to its lowest level in five weeks, amid concerns about the outlook for commodity prices.

The Australian shares closed flat, with investors sidelined ahead of a global meeting of central bankers in the US over the weekend.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep interest rates on hold when its board meets on Tuesday.

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains as local market players looked past a poor night on Wall Street.

US stocks tumbled on Thursday ahead of a much-anticipated speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday and as European woes renewed global growth worries.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in more than a month after official figures showed investment in the mining sector is likely to grow by less than expected this year.

The Australian stockmarket finished almost one per cent lower as resources companies suffered steep losses amid weakness on commodities markets.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest has spent nearly $39 million in two days increasing his shareholding in the mining company he founded, as its shares and iron ore prices plunge.

Fund manager Perpetual will cut more jobs next year as it continues with a major restructure that contributed to a 57 per cent drop in its full year profit.

The Australian stockmarket opened lower after iron ore prices fell overnight.

US stocks see-sawed in more light, noncommittal trade on Wednesday to close almost flat for the third straight session, amid fresh data that sent more mixed signals on the economy.

The Australian dollar is flat as markets wait for a key address by the US Federal Reserve chairman that could hint at further moves to stimulate the American economy.

The Australian share market has closed almost flat as investors wait to see if there will be more moves to stimulate the sluggish US economy.

Australian stocks have opened flat, with weakness among resources stocks offset by gains in defensive market sectors.

US stocks have finished mixed after economic data gave no clear direction on the economy, and as investors awaited a key speech by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke on Friday.