Financial Services

ANZ chairman David Gonski insists the bank has a heart, but not the power to cancel debts owed by investors in failed agribusiness Timbercorp.

Mortgage broker AFG has reached a milestone with a loan book of $100 billion.

National Australia Bank chairman Michael Chaney launched a defence of coal-fired power as the lender, and rival ANZ, rejected calls to stop funding mining projects.

Energy and mining stocks have led the share market nearly one per cent higher.

The Australian sharemarket is one per cent higher after an upbeat assessment of the American economy by the US central bank and a bounce in oil prices.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a new four-and-a-half-year low after the US central bank issued a more upbeat assessment of the US economy.

The Dow has jumped nearly 300 points after the US Federal Reserve made no changes to its monetary policy, saying it can remain "patient" before moving to raise interest rates.

The share market has closed higher for the first time in more than a week as the energy sector rebounded after recent heavy falls.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

US stocks have finished lower following a topsy-turvy session amid unease over plunging oil prices and a crash in the Russian rouble.

The Australian dollar is weaker as a plunge in the Russian rouble hit risk sentiment.

The share market has hit its lowest level in more than 10 months as falling commodity prices contributed to a sixth consecutive straight day of losses.

Banks should be forced to hold more capital in order for them to impress their offshore creditors, the head of the government's financial system inquiry says.

The Australian sharemarket has started on the backfoot again after continued weakness in oil prices pushed global stocks lower overnight.

US stocks have followed European markets lower after another big drop in world oil prices.

The Australian dollar has again threatened to fall below 82 US cents, under pressure from low oil prices and a siege in central Sydney.

The share market has fallen for a fifth consecutive session amid lower trading volumes due to a siege in Sydney’s CBD.

Trading on Australia's key financial markets has been hit by the hostage crisis in Martin Place.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower following another slide in oil prices.

The Dow has plummeted more than 300 points as US stocks took cues from a rout in European equities following another big drop in oil prices.

The Australian dollar threatened to break its four-and-a-half-year low after oil and gold prices fell at the end of last week.

The share market has fallen for a fourth straight day after Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens scotched expectations of interest rate cuts early in 2015.

The Australian share market is lower, pulled back by weakness among the major banks and the resources sector.

US stocks have advanced following an upbeat retail sales report, but the gains were limited by concerns over the rapid fall in oil prices.

The Australian dollar has plummeted to fresh four-and-a-half-year lows after the head of the Reserve Bank said he wanted the currency to fall to 75 US cents.

Sharp falls by resources companies caused by further weakness in commodity prices have driven the share market lower.

The Australian stock market has taken another dive after oil prices dropped to fresh five-year lows.

US stocks have tumbled more than 1.5 per cent as a pullback in petroleum stocks sparked a sell-off in the broader market.

The Australian dollar has slipped back below 83 US cents as oil prices come under further pressure after OPEC cut its 2015 demand forecast.

A slump in consumer sentiment and fears commodity prices will continue to tumble have driven the Australian share market lower.

The Australian sharemarket has continued its slide following fresh concerns about political instability in Greece.

Wall Street stocks have shaken off much of the negative momentum from Asian and European equity markets, finishing the day mixed after a bruising open.