Calls are mounting for a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia after new figures showed business conditions were wasting away, with little to no momentum building in the economy.
A massive snowstorm descending on New York dulled Wall Street trade, but stocks ended a bit higher, helped by some positive quarterly earnings reports.
US stocks have soared after the European Central Bank announced a huge bond-buying stimulus program, with banks and big tech stocks leading the way helped by a sharply higher US dollar.
Gold prices have settled above $US1,300 an ounce for the first time in five months as investors anticipated weaker currencies on the back of the European Central Bank's bigger-than-expected bond-buying program.
The Australian dollar briefly fell to a two week low after the European Central announced its 60 billion euros ($A84.62 billion) a month economic stimulus plan.
A shock rate cut from the Bank of Canada overnight has added to calls for the Reserve Bank of Australia to do the same next month - with one economist calling Australia's interest rate levels "absurd".
Wall Street has finished higher for the third straight session, shrugging off global growth worries in expectation the European Central Bank will announce aggressive stimulus measures on Thursday.
The Australian dollar has plunged more than one US cent, after a surprise interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada and on expectations of a huge economic stimulus package from the European Central Bank (ECB).
One of Western Australia’s last local credit unions, Unicredit, is moving to merge with Sydney-based Teachers Mutual Bank this year, joining a long-term trend towards scale in the lending industry.
The Australian share market has made solid gains, buoyed by a strong production report from global miner BHP Billiton and expectations that the European Central Bank will take steps to boost the eurozone's sputtering economy.
The Reserve Bank of Australia should slash interest rates to a fresh record low next month, Westpac's top economist says, as new figures show consumers remain pessimistic.
The Australian dollar is lower as falling oil prices and a downgrade to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) global growth forecasts weighs on market sentiment.
QBE Insurance Group has entered into an agreement for the sale of its US agency businesses to California-based Alliant Insurance Services for $US300 million ($A367 million).
Macquarie Group is on track to post its biggest profit in eight years, as the lower Australian dollar and improved market activity bolsters its earnings.
