WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is fractionally lower ahead of a key statement from the Reserve Bank.
At 0630 AEDT on Friday, the currency was trading at 71.44 US cents, down from 71.47 cents on Thursday.
And the Australian share market looks set to follow the negative lead of Wall Street, where investors were hesitant to make major moves ahead of the government's closely watched monthly jobs report.
At 0645 AEDT on Friday, the December share price index futures contract was down 25 points at 5,161.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - US unions, lawmakers and interest groups have questioned the long-awaited text of a landmark US-backed Pacific trade deal, setting up a potentially long and difficult path to ratification by the United States, the biggest of the 12 partners.
WASHINGTON - The 12 countries of the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade deal have announced a parallel agreement to avoid currency manipulation, a particular worry of the United States.
LONDON - The Bank of England has trimmed its forecast for British economic growth this year, warning about potential risks from a slowdown in emerging markets.
WASHINGTON - New claims for US unemployment insurance benefits rose last week but held close to a four-decade low in a firm jobs market, official data shows.
FRANKFURT - Lufthansa cabin staff will go ahead with their planned week of walkouts beginning on Friday after last-minute talks with management failed, the union UFO says.
DUBAI - Dubai's Emirates airline says its net profit surged 65 per cent in the first half of the financial year to $US849 million ($A1.19 billion) on lower fuel costs and higher passenger numbers.
SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines (SIA) says its second quarter net profit more than doubled from last year, but warned about uncertainty due to an economic slowdown in emerging markets led by China.
