WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has pulled back from recent highs as the greenback finally finds its feet following days of losses.
At 0700 AEST on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 76.53 US cents, down from 76.54 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher after better-than-expected trade figures out of China boosted markets worldwide.
At 0645 AEST on Thursday, the share price index was up 37 points at 5,074.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - World financial markets have calmed after turmoil earlier this year, but more needs to be done to ensure global financial stability amid slowing growth, weak commodity prices and worries about China's economy, the International Monetary Fund has warned.
LONDON - OPEC has cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2016 and warned of further reductions, citing concern about Latin America and China, pointing to a larger supply surplus this year.
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve says that the economy kept expanding in late February and March, despite weakness in the energy sector and a slowdown in exports of some factory and farm products because of global weakness and the strong dollar.
WASHINGTON - Five out of eight of the biggest US banks do not have credible plans for winding down operations during a crisis without the help of public money, federal regulators say.
WASHINGTON - US retail sales unexpectedly fell in March as households cut back on purchases of cars and other items, further evidence that economic growth stumbled in the first quarter.
NEW YORK - A US appeals court has cleared the way for the lifting of injunctions that prevented Argentina from paying off some debts, a ruling the country sought after agreeing to settle litigation by creditors suing over defaulted bonds.
ZURICH - A lawyer and a bank employee have convicted by a Swiss court of violating banking secrecy laws in the run-up to revelations of a currency trading scandal that prompted Switzerland's top central banker to resign in 2012.
TOKYO - Japan should carry out its planned VAT hike in 2017 by "at least 15 per cent", recommends Angel Gurria, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
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