Financial Services

The Australian share market was lower in early trade despite gains in overseas markets overnight.

The S&P 500 stock index has risen to fresh records, another positive day for global equity markets still cheered by last week's US Federal Reserve meeting.

The Australian dollar is lower, following falls in commodity prices and as the US dollar continues to gain strength.

A rebound in commodity prices has helped push the Australian share market nearly two per cent higher.

The Australian stockmarket has opened higher, boosted by gains in commodity prices.

US stocks went from famine to feast this week, starting out fearful of crashing oil prices and finishing it with a "Santa Claus rally".

The Australian dollar is lower amid expectations that the US Federal Reserve will increase its interest rate sooner that most people are expecting.

A "Santa Claus rally" has driven the share market to its strongest session in almost 18 months.

The Australian stockmarket has opened sharply higher, following a rally on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar has followed metal prices and Wall Street higher, bouncing from the record lows it reached after the US Federal Reserve meeting.

US stocks have surged for the second day in a row following Wednesday's Federal Reserve meeting as investors brushed aside concerns over another drop in oil prices.

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.