Financial Services

The Australian Securities Exchange's 21-year monopoly on share trading is over after cheaper rival Chi-X quietly opened for business.

Credit growth picked up a little in September, marginally eroding the case for lower interest rates, but price measures leant the other way.

The Australian share market has ended another volatile month on global stock markets by posting the biggest one-month gain in two years.

Shares in Africa-focused miner Paladin were punished after it reported a fall in uranium production amid weak market prices, despite record sales for the September quarter.

Perth-based stockbroking and investment house Argonaut is expanding its reach to alternative capital markerts in Asia, with the launch of its first office in Hong Kong.

Unions representing Qantas workers may challenge a ban on strike action but say they hope to settle their industrial dispute with the airline.

Price rises associated with travel and home ownership were offset by falling fruit and vegetable and rent costs in October, according to a new survey.

The Australian share market opened the week lower, after markets in the United States had mixed results on Friday.

Qantas will recover market share and press ahead with plans to set up an international business in Asia despite incurring more that $100 million in lost earnings, the airline's boss says.

The Australian dollar is at its highest levels in almost two months, rising on the back of optimism that the eurozone debt crisis will be contained.

After powerful equity relief rallies on a European debt crisis deal and stronger US economic growth, Wall Street investors are poised to refocus on the home front this week.

Stockbroking firm Hartleys has joined most of its industry peers in recording a bumper profit increase for the year to June 2011, a result that is unlikely to be matched in the current financial ye

Australian shares jumped almost two per cent, after the market finally opened, as European leaders agreed on a crucial plan to reduce Greece's debts and provide it with more rescue loans.

The Australian dollar saw a slight rise overnight, as traders await news from Europe on developments in the region's debt crisis talks.

US stocks closed with solid gains Wednesday after a choppy session focused on the EU crisis summit, which produced no comprehensive plan but gave hints at real progress.

The Australian dollar is three-quarters of a US cent lower against the background of delays in Europe's debt crisis talks and soft local inflation figures.

The federal government has announced extra funding for the Industry Capability Network, to help Australian businesses win supply contracts on major resources projects such as the Browse LNG develop

The battle to protect Australia's terrestrial environment from feared effects of coal seam gas (CSG) mining is at fever pitch.

Australian shares rebounded strongly to finish the day in positive territory after initially falling more than one per cent.

Specialty retailer Super Retail Group says it has started the current financial year well, despite uncertain conditions in the broader retail sector.

The rate of inflation has slowed but economists are divided on whether there will be an interest rate cut in the coming months.

Australian shares opened lower as investors worried a resolution to the European debt crisis may not come as soon as hoped.

The Australian dollar fell on scepticism that Europe's leaders are close to resolving the region's debt crisis and as traders await local inflation data.

Fortescue Metals Group has borrowed $US1.5 billion ($A1.44 billion), half a billion more than initially intended, to fund the iron ore miner's expansion plans.

Global stock markets were lower in cautious trade as investors waited in hope for a second EU summit to produce a long-awaited plan to solve the eurozone debt crisis.

The Australian dollar was trading higher today ahead of key domestic inflation data but drifted for most of the day session.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has again left the door open to lower interest rates and flagged tomorrow's inflation data as potentially paving the way for a move.

Australian shares gained about $35 billion in value as buyers and confidence returned, amid hopes of a comprehensive fiscal stability plan for Europe that also led to a rally on offshore markets.

The possibility of an interest rate cut is off the table as inflation is not expected to ease significantly in the September quarter, economists say.

The Australian share market opened slightly higher after mixed overnight leads from the US and falls in base metals prices.

The Australian dollar rose almost one US cent as traders position themselves in preparation for the weekend's crucial eurozone summit.

US stocks ended a choppy session mixed Thursday amid scepticism that European leaders will forge a deal on resolving the eurozone debt crisis in coming days.