Financial Services

US stocks have finished higher as a February rally accelerated amid continued strength of some high-flying technology equities.

The Australian dollar is firmer after US stocks rallied strongly overnight as appetite for riskier assets rise.

The sharemarket has closed flat after a slower increase in property prices in China generated anxiety about the strength of the Chinese economy.

The Australian share market has opened flat following weak overseas leads from the US.

US stocks have finished with modest declines as investors shrugged off a drop in sale of existing homes as weather-related.

The Australian dollar is lower ahead of a quiet day of no major local data releases.

A positive lead from Wall Street and a continuation of positive reaction to local earnings reports has helped take the sharemarket to its highest level in nearly six years.

The Australian market has opened higher after a strong lead from Wall Street and gains from the mining giants.

National Australia Bank has grown its cash profit in the first quarter by seven per cent to $1.55 billion.

The Australian dollar is higher, as optimism about the outlook for the US economy improves.

The Australian share market has finished a touch higher as investors reacted positively to strong earnings reports from major companies.

The Australian share market has opened higher following surprisingly strong earnings reports from second-tier stocks.

Spending has risen for the 17th consecutive month as business conditions improve, partly thanks to a lower Australian dollar.

The Australian dollar has fallen against a stronger US dollar following the release of Federal Reserve minutes showing it was determined to wind back its economic stimulus program.

US stocks have finished lower after minutes from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting showed some policymakers sought an early hike in the Fed's benchmark interest rate.

The share market has closed slightly higher but gave away most of its earlier gains as investors took profits late in the session.

The Australian sharemarket has opened higher amid another round of corporate earnings results and strong international leads.

US stocks have closed mostly higher as investors weighed mixed company news and an unexpected slump in home builder confidence.

The Australian dollar has fallen but weak US economic data has stopped it from dropping too low.

The Australian market closed slightly higher as gains from mining giant BHP Billiton's strong profit results were dragged down by a disappointing result from Coca-Cola Amatil.

The Australian sharemarket has opened higher, helped by BHP Billiton's massive profit rise.

The Australian dollar has lost a bit of ground in quiet overnight trade with US markets closed for the Presidents' Day public holiday.

Australian shares have finished higher, buoyed by local earnings results and offshore gains.

The Australian sharemarket has opened stronger due to record Chinese credit growth, a strong lead from Wall Street and better-than-expected domestic earnings season.

US stocks have surged higher this week as investors were reassured by the Federal Reserve, cheered by a congressional move to raise the debt ceiling and undeterred by disappointing economic data.

The Australian dollar is higher as the prospect of a stable interest rate outlook helps investors shrug off last week's disappointing jobs figures.

The Australian share market closed higher following a good lead from US markets and encouraging company earnings reports.

The Australian share market has opened half a per cent higher after Wall Street shrugged off disappointing retail sales figures.

History is not a useful guide in predicting movements in the Australian dollar at the moment, a central bank official says.

US stocks have closed higher, shrugging off some disappointing retail sales and jobless claims data.

The Australian dollar has risen after weak US economic figures raised hopes the US Federal Reserve might not increase the tapering of its economic stimulus program any time soon.

The Australian share market's run of gains has ended, due to mixed reactions to corporate profit reports.