Financial Services

 Worries about whether Greece and its creditors will agree a debt deal have pushed Australian shares lower at the open.

The Australian dollar is a quarter of a US cent higher after some promising news from the European Union leaders summit.

All European Union countries, except Britain and the Czech Republic, have agreed to sign up to a new treaty designed to stop overspending on the eurozone and put an end to the bloc's crippling debt

The Australian dollar has dropped from its recent three-month high, in the lead-up to a key European Union summit to tackle sovereign debt.

 Australian shares ended lower as investors took profits ahead of the February profit reporting season.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says he has no plan to follow France's lead by introducing a financial transaction tax.

 Australian stocks have opened slightly higher after mixed leads from offshore bourses kept investors wary ahead of the start of the local earnings season.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher on expectations that Greece will reach a deal with its creditors to avoid a debt default.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos says there is "total convergence" among political allies on new austerity measures needed for a second bailout and debt cuts to avert default.

The federal opposition believes the Reserve Bank of Australia, and not the government, should do much of the heavy lifting if the local economy needs a boost in the face of a souring global economy

 The Australian dollar has retreated slightly from a three-month high after a reassessment of global economic prospects by the currency market.

The Australian share market ended at a seven-week high today, led by the resources and materials sector.

The Australian dollar is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign central banks and sovereign wealth funds as they try to reduce their exposure to under-performing US and European currencies.

 Australian shares have opened higher, led by the big miners, following a US Federal Reserve decision to keep interest rates low for longer.

The Australian dollar has lost ground after reaching its highest level in three months overnight amid a global rally of shares and risk currencies.

US stocks erased early gains on solid earnings reports from Caterpillar and Netflix to end lower on Thursday, with some weak economic data and profit-taking seeming to drive the selling.

Treasurer Wayne Swan won't be cutting the major retail banks any slack if the central bank cuts the official cash rate again at its board meeting next month.

The Australian dollar continued to trade above 105 US cents despite expectations of further interest rate cuts after official data showed that inflation was easing.

 Australian shares closed at a six-week high after official figures showing an easing of inflation boosted hopes for further interest rate cuts.

 Australian shares have climbed after market-beating results from Apple helped bourses shrug off growing concerns that Greece may default on its debt.

The Australian dollar has been dragged down as negotiations to prevent Greece defaulting on its debt hit an impasse and the International Monetary Fund downgraded its global growth forecasts.

US stocks fell Tuesday on concerns that a deal to prevent a default by Greece might fall through.

The Australian dollar slipped to trade back below 105 US cents after soaring to its highest position since October.

More Australian businesses left bills unpaid for 90 days or longer during the December quarter than a year earlier, Dun & Bradstreet said. 

Goldfields Credit Union has received regulatory approval for its plan to demutualise, raise $9 million in additional capital and list on the Australian Securities Exchange as Goldfields Money.

Australian shares have opened higher as the weaker US dollar helps commodity prices and concerns over Europe's debt crisis take a back seat.

The Australian dollar has soared above 105 US cents for the first time since October on renewed optimism that Greece will reach a deal with its creditors to avoid defaulting on its debt.

The Australian dollar has continued its solid performance over the weekend against the US dollar, influenced by relatively good economic fundamentals.

The Australian share market closed weaker as investors awaited an outcome to Greek debt restructure plans, with eurozone finance ministers scheduled to meet later today.

Treasurer Wayne Swan would welcome new foreign lenders to the Australian loans market, saying more competition would mean better deals for borrowers.

Bankwest managing director Jon Sutton is returning to a senior executive role at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with CBA executive general manager of retail and business banking Rob De Luca set to