WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has bounced back amid the US Federal Reserve's caution and growing signs China's economy is stabilising.
At 0700 AEST on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 75.98 US cents, up from 75.65 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher after Wall Street was bolstered by gains in healthcare shares after the collapse of the $US160 billion merger of Pfizer and Allergan, and by a rise in energy shares.
At 0645 AEST on Thursday, the share price index was up 22 points at 4,954.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund has offered a solution to persistently sluggish economic growth that includes proposals to deregulate product markets and adopt policies to boost labour market participation.
WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve policymakers debated last month whether an interest rate hike would be needed in April though a consensus emerged that risks from a global economic slowdown warranted a cautious approach.
NEW YORK - The biggest US-based drugmaker, Pfizer, and rival Allergan have called off the record $US160 billion ($A212.3 billion) merger "by mutual agreement".
HELSINKI - Telecom network equipment maker Nokia is planning to cut thousands of jobs globally, including 1,400 in Germany and 1,300 in its native Finland, as part of a cost-cutting program following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent earlier this year.
KUALA LUMPUR - The chief executive of Malaysia Airlines says the carrier recorded a profit in February, its first positive monthly result in years, and is on track to return to the black by 2018.
STOCKHOLM - Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB says first-quarter sales grew to 43.7 billion kronor ($A7.17 billion) from 40.3 billion kronor as the company continued to expand with new shops and increased online sales.
ST LOUIS, Missouri - Monsanto has reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $US1.06 billion ($A1.41 billion).
LOS ANGELES - A judge has approved a multimillion dollar settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by former Sony Pictures Entertainment employees whose private information was stolen in a massive data breach.
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