Financial Services

The Australian share market opened slightly lower, despite gains on Wall Street and positive leads from European markets.

International Monetary Fund members have vowed to secure global financial stability to allow urgently needed reforms and regain worldwide economic growth.

The Australian dollar has fallen after local trade figures showed the nation's terms of trade weakened in the first three months of the year.

The Australian share market closed marginally higher despite earnings downgrades and a fall in some commodity prices.

The Australian share market opened flat after falls on Wall Street and European markets.

US stock markets were modestly lower Thursday, with US unemployment data and a successful Spanish debt sale giving little direction to trade.

The Australian share market has closed at a fresh eight-month high, buoyed by resource stocks and investors punting on China undertaking new moves to boost its economy.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower in quiet trade as investors sit on the sidelines awaiting the outcome of a Spanish government bond auction.

Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev has set out his vision for Australia's largest bank, but refused to put performance targets on his key aims.

Personal fraud is on the rise in Australia, with a whopping 1.2 million people falling victim in 2010-2011.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has acknowledged movements in the official cash rate lie in the hands of the independent central bank.

The Australian share market opened slightly higher following gains for the mining giants and despite falls on Wall Street.

Investors unimpressed by a skein of positive earnings surprises have sold down US stocks, with some nervousness over the eurozone clouding sentiment.

The Australian share market closed higher in response to positive production numbers from BHP Billiton and after global markets rallied in response to a successful Spanish bond auction.

The Bank of Queensland has outlined it much-anticipated turnaround plan after posting a $90.6 million first half loss.

Bankwest has been added to a list of financial institutions targeted by what is claimed to be the nation's biggest class action suit, aimed at recouping unfair and excessive bank fees.

 Australian stocks have opened more than one per cent higher after a successful Spanish bond auction eased concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.

US shares have surged, led by a huge jump from Apple as several positive earnings surprises and the IMF's improved outlook for world growth inspired buyers.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower, following falls in resource stocks.

 Next week's March quarter inflation figures are building up to be a crucial set of numbers for borrowers hoping for another official interest rate cut by the central bank.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has described the appointment of Jim Yong Kim as next president of the World Bank as an excellent addition for the development agency.

Australian stocks have opened higher, led by strong gains in the healthcare and info tech sectors in quiet trading conditions.

US stocks have traded mixed as investors weighed better-than-expected March retail sales numbers, a sharp slowdown in New York manufacturing and renewed eurozone debt tensions.

 The Australian dollar has continued to fall on concerns around euro zone debt and Spanish bond yields.

Homeowners are braced for more interest rate hikes after Australia's big banks failed to rule out following ANZ's lead and lift lending rates independently of the central bank.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors fear that Spain may follow debt-laden Greece down the slippery slope.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has declined to back a Liberal frontbencher's defence of a surprise rate hike by ANZ Bank.Banks were quite capable of defending themselves, he said.

Westpac will open its first branch in India after receiving a banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India.

Australian stocks have opened more than half a per cent lower due to a weak lead from the US as the local materials sector weighed on the market.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused the opposition of going into bat for the big banks by backing a surprise interest rate hike by the ANZ.

US stocks have closed out a miserable week with steep losses as worries about growth in the United States, China and Europe eclipsed a solid start to the corporate earnings season.

ANZ Bank has lifted interest rates for its variable home loan customers and small business borrowers despite the central bank leaving the cash rate on hold.