US stocks have scored moderate gains following a solid kickoff to earnings season from Alcoa, and Federal Reserve meeting minutes signalling an end to its bond-buying program in October.
The Australian dollar is higher on greenback weakness after the US Federal Reserve's policy committee said it would not begin raising interest rates for "a considerable time".
Australian stocks fell heavily on a day where the negative mood among US investors overnight carried into local trading, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closing 58.4 points, or 1.06 per cent, lower at 5,452.5.
Perth broker Euroz Limited has more than doubled its annual net profit to $26.5 million, after the acquisition of Blackswan Equities lifted its profit guidance for the financial year.
IG market strategist Stan Shamu said money that was on the sidelines in June as traders were sorting out portfolios for their tax returns appeared to be coming back into the market.
US stocks have fallen, retreating from last week's records as analysts point to profit taking and predictions from some experts that the market is due for a pullback.
FEATURE: An investment in each of the 10 largest capital raisings by companies in Western Australia during 2013 would be 14 per cent underwater at current prices, according to research conducted by Business News.
Asian markets have rallied after the United States said its economy created more than a quarter of a million jobs in June, sending Wall Street to new records and boosting the US dollar against the yen.
Australian stocks are higher for the third consecutive day, following the lead of US markets which rallied to fresh highs on strong jobs growth figures.
Wall Street rode improving economic data to fresh records this week, spawning comparisons to July 4 fireworks on the eve of the US Independence Day holiday.
Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev has apologised to customers hurt by misconduct in its financial planning business, but critics have hit out at the bank's latest review into the maligned division.
Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev will front the media for the first time since a damning report called for a royal commission to investigate its financial advisers.
The Dow and S&P 500 edged to new records Wednesday ahead the official US jobs data for June, with the outlook buoyed by a strong ADP private sector report.
Signs of stronger manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy have outweighed a blowout in Australia's trade deficit and fuelled gains on the share market.
Western Australian financial advisers and stockbrokers have dismissed a report that found public-listed companies were paying nearly 50 per cent too much to raise capital.
Internet pioneer Michael Malone has quietly ended another formal link to the ISP he founded and floated, selling more than 1.1 million shares in iiNet to net almost $8.5 million, a move which takes him below the 5 per cent substantial shareholder limit.
The Australian dollar has shot up above 95 US cents after the Reserve Bank of Australia gave a more neutral statement than the market expected following its interest rate decision.
