WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is lower after Federal Reserve chair nominee Janet Yellen said the central bank would do whatever it could to strengthen the US economy.
At 0630 AEDT on Friday, the local unit was trading at 93.15 US cents, down from 93.52 cents on Thursday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open flat after international markets rose amid optimism prospective Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen will continue economic stimulus measures.
At 0650 AEDT on Friday, the December share price index futures contract was up three points at 5,368.
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ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - Janet Yellen, the White House nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, says the central bank will do whatever is in its power to back a robust US economic recovery.
WASHINGTON - The US trade deficit increased sharply in September, to $US41.8 billion ($A44.93 billion), as imports swelled, the Commerce Department has reported.
DUBLIN - Ireland will stand on its own two feet when it becomes the first eurozone nation to exit a bailout after the government refused a precautionary credit facility.
BRUSSELS - Spain has decided to follow Ireland's lead and exit its bank bailout without seeking a precautionary credit line in reserve, eurozone finance ministers say.
LISBON - Bailed-out Portugal has revealed a sharp slowdown in economic growth just three months after shaking off a two-and-a-half-year recession.
NEW YORK - US defence contractor Lockheed Martin says it will cut 4000 jobs and close four facilities due to US budget cuts.
LONDON - Barclays bank plans to cut 1700 jobs as it reduces the number of local branches in Britain, a spokesman says.
TOULON, France - A French court on has found German safety standards firm TUV liable in a worldwide scare over defective breast implants and ordered the company to compensate distributors and hundreds of victims.
PARIS - Air France-KLM, one of Alitalia's major shareholders, says it will not take part in the multi-million-euro recapitalisation plan to save the embattled Italian airline.
