Australian shares were flat in early trade after poor results from US banks capped gains from more positive mining figures and economic data overnight.
US stocks followed European counterparts higher on Tuesday buoyed by encouraging economic news from Germany and China, and a strong reading from a New York regional economic activity indicator.
The Australian dollar rose more than one US cent after trader sentiment was buoyed by the publication of stronger than expected economic growth in China.
Australian shares closed at their highest level in five weeks after better than expected Chinese economic growth buoyed already optimistic investor sentiment.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned Europe faces an "unprecedented crisis" but urged calm in the face of Standard & Poor's multiple eurozone rating downgrades.
Australia's banks will endure mandatory stress tests imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure they can withstand another financial crisis.
Australian shares have opened lower after a downgrade of nine of the European bloc countries' credit ratings sparked a fresh wave of risk aversion ahead of more Chinese data this week.
The mass debt downgrade of eurozone nations has reignited a debate over boosting the bloc's bailout fund, but governments are divided over raising their contributions, a senior EU official says.
Workers in Australia's big banks are being warned to prepare for the worst after ANZ confirmed it will slash hundreds of jobs over the next six months.
Getting a clear understanding of CEO remuneraton packages has been a challenge in Australia, despite increased disclosure over the years, but that looks set to change if the high standards set by F
Forge Group has completed its search for a new chief executive with the recruitment of a senior executive from UGL Resources on a $1 million-plus package, and by coincidence has called a trading ha
A record year for natural disasters has caused insurance giant QBE to issue the year's first major profit downgrade, sending its shares to a near eight-year low.
US stocks closed mixed on Wednesday in markets that barely budged a day after a burst of buying on the promising first results of the corporate earnings season.
Australian shares have risen to a month high as an upbeat start to the US earnings season and hopes of further monetary easing in China sparked a rally in global stocks.
US stocks posted moderate gains Tuesday, lifted by a positive start to the corporate earnings season and Chinese trade data that spurred speculation that Beijing would loosen monetary policy.
US stocks posted moderate gains Tuesday, lifted by a positive start to the corporate earnings season and Chinese trade data that spurred speculation that Beijing would loosen monetary policy.
