Financial Services

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has delivered a surprisingly strong $2.3 billion quarterly profit, putting paid to suggestions its best days are over.

Wall Street stocks have finished mostly lower following lacklustre US economic data and some disappointing earnings reports.

The Australian dollar is higher following the Reserve Bank's steady-as-she-goes statement after its monthly board meeting.

The share market has closed slightly higher as poor trade figures and an upward revision to recent unemployment figures muted the response to strong growth in retail spending.

Interest rates are unlikely to move any time soon with the Reserve Bank of Australia still concerned about the high Australian dollar.

The Australian share market is slightly higher following soft leads from overseas markets and as the nation prepares to mark Melbourne Cup day.

The Australian dollar has fallen to an almost three-week low after the release of weak local building approvals figures and Chinese manufacturing data.

US stocks have finished little changed following mixed economic data as markets paused after last week's records.

Australia's big four banks have made a record total profit of $28.6 billion as property prices continued to surge.

The share market has closed weaker as softer commodity prices hit the big miners and Woolworths delivered disappointing sales growth.

The share market is flat after Westpac's cash profit rise and supermarket giant Woolworths's sales figures failed to excite investors.

Westpac Bank has beaten expectations by lifting its full year cash profit by eight per cent to $7.63 billion.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-week low as worries about economic growth in China and Japan escalate.

US equities have powered to fresh records after the Bank of Japan's surprise stimulus ignited a rally on global stock exchanges.

The share market has closed higher as the big miners rebounded from recent falls and ANZ's record profit helped the banks.

Mortgage broking wholesaler Australian Finance Group is set for a record run into Christmas, with expectations its new loan applications will soar beyond $5 billion as early as this month.

Wealth manager Macquarie Group's profit has surged by 35 per cent on the back of strong demand for fixed-income investments and a weakening Australian dollar.

Eight Western Australians, including five 40under40 winners, have made the 2014 BRW Rich List with a collective wealth of $337 million.

ANZ Banking Group's chief executive thinks the world can handle the end of US economic stimulus measures but warns that Australia's Financial System Inquiry may damage the local economy.

The share market has opened higher after a rise on US markets overnight and market heavyweight ANZ achieved strong profit growth.

The Australian dollar has followed US stocks higher as it recovers from its steep fall following the US central bank meeting.

Strong earnings by credit card giant Visa sent its stock soaring, almost single-handedly powering the Dow to a 1.3 per cent gain.

Strong demand for healthcare in Western Australia has provided a significant boost to St John of God Health Care's revenue and resulting surplus.

The share market has closed higher as the big banks continued their strong run, despite a fall in profit for National Australia Bank.

Broking firms have made bids of almost $12 billion for the Abbott government's sale of health insurer Medibank Private.

National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn says the company must get out of its troubled UK banking business to improve returns.

The Australian share market has opened higher despite a drop in US markets overnight.

The Australian dollar has dropped more than one US cent after the Federal Reserve issued an upbeat assessment of the American employment market.

Wall Street stocks have finished lower after the US Federal Reserve ended its quantitative easing stimulus program, but said it would continue to keep its benchmark interest rate low.

The share market is weaker as investors cautiously wait for the big banks to deliver their full-year results.

Suncorp's chief executive is calling on Treasurer Joe Hockey to tackle the competitive disadvantage of the smaller banks.

The falling Aussie dollar is starting to have an impact on the Australian economy, giving company revenues a boost.