Financial Services

US stocks have given up early gains and finished mostly flat as investors dump Facebook shares for a second straight day amid new controversy about the company's $US16 billion IPO.

Union leader Paul Howes wants the federal government to pull banks into line on interest rates by forcing them to match the central bank's rate moves.

The Australian dollar has continued to climb higher, on positive commentary from the euro zone and China.

The Australian share market continued its second consecutive day of recovery from last week's carnage, driven by overnight offshore leads.

Goldfields Credit Union has made its debut Australian Securities Exchange as Goldfields Money, after raising $9 million through an initial public offering.

Australian stocks have opened higher, as market players took their cues from a positive night on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar has headed back above 99.00 US cents amid optimism that a new approach to the euro zone government debt crisis will work.

US shares have racked up strong gains with the Nasdaq adding nearly 2.5 per cent helped by an Apple surge, but Facebook shares flipped below their IPO price on their first full day of trading.

The Australian dollar has rebounded to finish back above US98 cents after its recent big falls to the lowest levels in six months.

Australian stocks closed higher, driven by a rebound in resource and finance stocks, as world leaders reaffirmed they wanted beleaguered Greece to remain in the euro zone.

The Australian share market has started strongly after the 11th worst week on record last week.

A dull debut for Facebook, one of the most heavily anticipated public offerings in years, crowned another down week for United States markets as eurozone instability kept fear levels high among inv

The Australian dollar has plunged to its lowest level in almost six months as concern deepens about the euro zone debt crisis.

Credit markets are already closing as the euro zone debt crisis continues, ANZ chief executive Mike Smith says.

Australian stocks have sunk to their lowest level this year as investors begin to panic over the crisis in Europe after reports of a run on Spanish banks.

US stocks have closed with losses well above one per cent as negative news continued from Europe, with Greece's woes deepening and Spain falling into recession.

The Australian dollar is higher but still below parity, helped by comments that the US Federal Reserve is open to stimulate the American economy.

The Australian share market closed slightly lower as Asian markets rallied and concerns about Greece's future in the euro zone eased temporarily.

Greece's exit from the euro zone would not have the same impact on the world as the events that led to the global financial crisis (GFC), the head of Commonwealth Bank says.

Australian stocks have opened higher, with gains among the big miners helping defy a weak lead from offshore markets.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) shares have dropped despite posting a profit of $1.7 billion for the three months to March.

The Australian dollar has moved back above 99 US cents following the release of positive American housing data.

US stocks gave up early gains on positive US economic data to sink lower Wednesday as worries over Greece's future in the euro zone hit investor sentiment.

Australian stocks have plunged to two-month lows led by the resources sector, with Greece's problems keeping investor confidence at depressing lows.

Total loan approvals were up 5.2 per cent in March, official figures show.

Australian stocks have opened more than one per cent lower amid broad based declines as local market players took their cues from a poor night on Wall Street and ongoing troubles in Europe.

US stocks have sunk as speculation about Greece's potential exit from the eurozone continues after the country's political parties failed to forge a government.

The Australian dollar rose back slightly above parity with the US dollar after a boost in late afternoon trade on official data showing Germany avoided a recession.

The state government will introduce legislation tomorrow allowing Bankwest to operate under the same license as its parent company.

Australian stocks fell to a weaker close, dragged down by heavy losses among the resource stocks.

A drop in the Australian currency below parity with the US dollar and a recent cut in domestic interest rates will help manufacturers, the Australian Industry Group says.