WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has drifted back toward 78 US cents.
At 0630 AEDT on Thursday, the local currency was trading at 78.36 US cents, down from 78.78 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open lower after Wall Street fell sharply as a selloff in semiconductors, fed by a downgrade on suppliers, spread to the broader market.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the June share price index futures contract was down 41 points at 5,929.
ELSEWHERE:
FRANKFURT - The deadly crash of a jet belonging to low-cost carrier Germanwings deals a body blow to the image of its parent company Lufthansa, analysts say.
ATHENS - Greece does not have the right to 1.2 billion euros ($A1.66 billion) it believed it mistakenly returned to the eurozone's bailout fund, an spokesman for the fund has said after talks with Greek officials.
BRUSSELS - The EU announced Wednesday it will impose anti-dumping duties for six months on some steel imports from China and Taiwan as a new trade row erupted between Brussels and Beijing.
WASHINGTON - Orders for US durable goods has sagged, led by declines in car and aircraft orders.
VICTORIA, Seychelles - The Seychelles has sealed its entry to the World Trade Organisation, the Geneva-based body whose 160 members set the rules of global commerce.
MUMBAI - India has raised a record $US17.6 billion ($A22.34 billion) during intense bidding on a government auction of mobile phone airwaves, as analysts warned of price hikes for subscribers.
NEW YORK - Heinz and Kraft will merge to become North America's third largest food and beverage company.
TAIPEI - Taiwan's struggling personal computer maker Acer said Wednesday it turned a profit in 2014 following three successive years of net losses.
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