WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has regained some ground after falling to a three-month low following the release of Federal Reserve minutes that signalled a June US rate hike is "live."
At 0720 AEST on Friday, the local unit was trading at 72.26 US cents, up from 72.21 cents on Thursday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open lower following a weak overnight performance in the US and Europe.
At 0700 AEST on Friday, the share price index was down six points at 5,339.
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LONDON - The heads of 15 major international companies, including GE, Cisco, Mars, EMC, Airbus, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have signed a letter to the Financial Times calling for Britain to remain in the EU.
LONDON - Britain's High Court has rejected a legal challenge brought by the world's top four tobacco companies against making plain packaging compulsory on cigarettes.
BRUSSELS - European Union finance ministers will agree next week to draw up a common list of tax havens and sanctions against them, according to a draft EU document, part of a crackdown on tax evasion by companies and wealthy individuals.
WASHINGTON - The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid fell from a 14-month high last week, the latest sign that the US economy is regaining speed after stumbling in the first quarter.
WASHINGTON - Long-term US mortgage rates were little changed this week, at or near their lows for the year.
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas - Surprisingly strong first quarter sales at Wal-Mart and an optimistic outlook from the world's largest retailer has lifted a pall that settled over the entire sector this week.
BERLIN - German drug and chemicals company Bayer has confirmed it has entered talks with the Monsanto Company about the possible acquisition of the US-based specialist in genetically modified crop seeds.
