WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is higher after US President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen to be the first female head of the US Federal Reserve.
At 0630 AEDT on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 94.45 US cents, up from 94.33 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian market is set to open lower ahead of the release of official jobs figures.
At 0659 AEDT on Thursday, the December share price index futures contract was down 20 points at 5,120.
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ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama is inviting Republican and Democratic politicians to the White House for discussions on defusing a dual showdown over the shuttered government and raising the debt ceiling.
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has nominated respected economist Janet Yellen to lead the Federal Reserve, replacing outgoing Chairman Ben Bernanke, who carried the central bank through the financial crisis.
WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund has cheered the White House choice of Janet Yellen to lead the Federal Reserve as positive for removing uncertainty hanging over the US central bank.
WASHINGTON - Nearly every member of the Federal Reserve thought last month that the central bank should see more evidence that the economy was improving before slowing its bond purchases. But worries about whether a delay would confuse financial markets made the decision a "close call."
BERLIN - Industrial production in powerhouse Germany has rebounded more strongly than expected in August, driven by the auto sector.
PARIS - Shares in telecom-equipment group Alctael-Lucent have plunged by nearly seven per cent, as controversy built up over a restructuring plan to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide and 900 jobs in France.
