A clear improvement in the Federal Reserve's economic outlook, and a solid outcome of the Fed's stress tests for major banks, gave the markets another strong two per cent-plus boost this week.
Putting more information on business loans and financing into the public arena would help turn the spotlight on the struggles of small businesses, the coalition says.
The banking industry has admitted it is struggling to gain the public's trust in explaining why mortgage rates need to rise independently of the Reserve Bank.
THE ANZ's top institutional banking executive in Australia believes Asian investors will increasingly provide the growth capital sought by local mining companies.
Consumer sentiment has fallen following the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decisions in February and March to keep the official interest rate on hold, a survey shows.
US stocks took off Tuesday and the Dow zoomed past the 13,000 mark driven by soaring bank shares, sparked by JPMorgan Chase's announcement of a huge share buyback and dividend hike.
The number of home loan approvals has fallen for the first time in 10 months but, economists say, the news won't trouble the Reserve Bank of Australia.
US stocks finished mixed Monday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy board meeting that analysts hope will provide a better picture of the US economy's direction.
Australian stocks have defied a positive lead from offshore and opened weaker, with falls among the energy and healthcare sectors leading the overall market lower.
US stocks took a roller-coaster ride in the week to Friday as Wall Street marked three years since hitting bottom in the middle of the Great Recession.
The Australian dollar continued its rise today, with traders relieved there may be an end in sight for the current chapter in the Greek government debt crisis.
