Financial Services

US stocks have risen despite a series of uneven data and corporate earnings reports that included a big disappointment from oil giant ExxonMobil.

The Australian share market gave up earlier gains to finish slightly higher following a positive lead from Wall Street.

The Australian share market has opened well over half a per cent higher, buoyed by optimism on overseas markets.

The Australian dollar is three quarters of a US cent higher, driven by a strong rise in US stocks helped by a big boost in earnings for technology giant Apple.

Blockbuster profits from Apple and a solid showing by Boeing have pumped up US markets, with a late boost coming from a slightly improved growth outlook from the Federal Reserve.

The federal government wants to discourage people taking out high-cost, small-amount "payday loans".

The Australian share market had a flat day with falls in overseas markets overnight offset by heightened expectations of an interest rate cut.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower, following the overnight lead of the US and European markets.

US stocks closed lower but off earlier steep losses as Wall Street focused on European political and economic uncertainty and some US earnings results missed expectations.

Western Australian Treasurer Christian Porter has welcomed an interim report on the carve-up of GST revenue, which has flagged changes to a system Mr Porter says is broken and in need of reform.

The Australian dollar has moved lower on official data showing weak inflation at the farm and factory gate, which has added to the case for a rate cut by the central bank.

The Australian share market closed slightly weaker as investors prepared for crucial inflation data that could pave the way for another interest rate cut.

A fall in producer prices in the first three months of 2012 suggests inflation remains weak and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will have room to cut interest rates in May, economists say.

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.