Financial Services

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the possibility of the US central bank starting a new round of economic stimulus is looking more likely.

US stocks turned lower this week after six straight weekly gains as fresh signs of frailty in the global economy emerged and a number of companies cut their corporate profit forecasts.

The Australian dollar is at it's lowest level in five weeks amid pessimism about the outcome of talks between the Greece, French and German leaders on the weekend.

Central bank governor Glenn Stevens says he doesn't think Australian bank profits are excessive.

The Australian stockmarket closed lower on Friday, also finishing down for the week and ending a run of five weeks of gains.

ANZ chief executive Mike Smith has sold $10.9 million worth of shares to meet an income tax bill and reduce his debt.

Australian stocks have opened weaker as declines in the mining and energy sectors dragg the broader market lower.

The Australian dollar has fallen close to three-quarters of a US cent on weak Chinese data and concerns about the domestic mining industry.

Sharp falls by blue chips Boeing and Hewlett-Packard have helped give US stocks their worst day so far this month, amid more signs of weak growth in major economies.

Signs the US Federal Reserve may introduce fresh stimulus measures sooner than expected have pushed the Australian dollar higher.

The top brass of the Reserve Bank of Australia will face further grillings about scandals involving its note-making companies when they appear before a powerful parliamentary committee.

Australian stocks closed firmer as strong gains among mining and gold stocks pushed the broader market higher.

Cash Converters has posted a six per cent rise in net profit to a record $29.4 million due to strong growth in its personal loans business.

The Australian share market has opened higher following mixed results from Wall Street and Europe overnight and amid renewed hopes of fresh economic stimulus in the US.

US stocks have erased early losses to close mixed after a fresh sign that the US Federal Reserve is leaning toward new economic stimulus efforts.

The Australian dollar is lower after a rally in the euro kept a lid on any gains the local currency was able to make.

The Australian stockmarket finished a touch lower as investors abandoned energy and resources stocks and found value in the beaten down retail sector.

The Australian share market has opened broadly flat following mixed leads from US and European markets overnight.

US stocks have closed lower, unable to maintain early gains as tech stocks dragged on sentiment.

The Australian dollar briefly rose above the 105 US cents after the central bank board minutes confirmed a positive outlook for the Australian economy.

Australian shares closed at near four-month high, with investor confidence buoyed by strong earnings reports and positive views on housing and investment by the central bank.

A stabilising Chinese economy and tentative signs of an improvement in the non-mining sectors of the local economy were behind the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to keep the cash rate at 3.5

The Australian share market has opened flat following lacklustre trading from European markets and Wall Street overnight.

US stocks have closed flat in quiet trade that still had enough might to push Apple to become the world's most valuable company of all time, eclipsing Microsoft's 1999 record.

 The Australian share market finished marginally weaker, dragged down after final dividend payments by heavyweights Commonwealth Bank and Telstra.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has highlighted the pressures of high funding costs and weak demand for loans as it reported a 43 per cent drop in full year profit.

Former treasury boss Ken Henry has told business the Australian dollar is likely to remain high for the foreseeable future.

Former Commonwealth Bank (CBA) chief executive Ralph Norris stands to earn $9.6 million from his last five months at the bank.

The Australian share market has opened lower, pulled back by several large companies trading ex-dividend.

US stocks racked up their sixth straight weekly gain on Friday, despite a thin diet of news and low market volume, with the Dow hitting its best level since the end of 2007 and the S&P 500 just

Australian shares have finished almost one per cent higher as investors continue to buy into local companies following better than expected earnings results this week.

Two issues stood out in the central bank's latest quarterly statement, apart from the usual warnings about Europe and China - productivity and the Australian dollar.