Financial Services

Consumer sentiment has risen strongly in November, suggesting that last week's interest rate cut has had the desired effect, Westpac says.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has warned the world is at risk of plunging into "uncertainty and financial instability" and has urged Asian economies to be on their guard.

The federal government's leading employment index rose for a third consecutive month in November after revisions to the series.

Insolvencies spiked in Australia in the September quarter as creditors got tough on debt recovery, fresh data from the corporate watchdog shows.

Monthly trade figures usually prompt talk of coal, iron ore and the like, but this focus on minerals is a distraction from another important element of the trade data.

Australians are returning to home-buying on expectations that interest rates won't be going up anytime soon, economists say.

Seven Group says the current uncertainty in global markets may prompt the media and earthmoving equipment company to consider further impairment charges on its investments.

Australian shares gained more than one per cent with local investors encouraged by Wall Street's overnight rise on news Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would resign.

The Australian dollar has lifted on news of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's decision to resign.

US stock markets scored robust gains Tuesday after the embattled Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said he would resign after austerity measures are approved.

The Australian dollar fell half a US cent amid concerns that Italy risked defaulting on its sovereign debt.

The Australian share market closed firmer after a positive US lead but trading volumes were low as investors sat on the sidelines as anxiety over eurozone debt continued.

Economic activity softened in contrast with increased confidence in October, a private survey has shown.

One of the world's largest investment management organisations has doubled its stake in Perth-based Cape Lambert Resources.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia expects subdued credit growth to continue into next year, and says gains in productivity will drive improvements in its performance.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with the gold and metals and minerals sectors leading the broader market higher after a positive lead from Wall Street.

The Australian dollar has lifted this morning, on the back of positive economic news from the US, and optimism around local data due today.

US stocks jumped strongly in the last two hours of trade Monday to finish in the green after a day spent mostly in the loss zone under more clouds from the eurozone crisis.

The Australian dollar fell almost half a US cent as traders awaited further developments on the resolution to Greece's sovereign debt woes.

Privately-owned engineering and contracting company Calibre Global has announced its fifth acquisiton in the past two years, with the purchase of Melbourne-based infrastructure servi

Australia's unemployment rate is expected to have risen in October as global economic uncertainties kept local employers from hiring new staff.

The Australian share market closed slightly lower after energy stocks lost ground and Westpac and Macquarie Group traded without a dividend.

Ramelius Resources says it will launch a $15 million share purchase plan after completing a $40 million placement to institutional investors.

Australian stocks have opened marginally lower, much less than the declines on offshore markets late last week.

The Australian dollar has dropped slightly after a disappointing conclusion to the G20 Summit over the weekend.

Oil prices gained on Friday as markets prepared for another weekend of mystery over the fate of the eurozone rescue plan.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group will become the eighth Western Australian company included in Standard & Poor’s ASX 100 index when trade resumes on Monday.

The Australian dollar rose around one and a half US cents as concerns over Greece's debt crisis eased.

Resources giant Rio Tinto says it's comfortable with its dependence on China but warns that investors have become more apprehensive about investing in Australia.

The federal government is doggedly sticking to its plan to bring the budget back to surplus in 2012/13, despite new Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) forecasts suggesting revenues will be somewhat lo

Consumer credit demand has risen in the September quarter, driven by a turnaround in personal loan applications, a private sector study says.