WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has weakened to the lowest level in six years following stronger-than-expected US jobs data.
At 0630 AEDT on Monday, the local currency was trading at 77.12 US cents, down from 78.01 cents on Friday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open markedly lower following sharp falls on Wall Street after a strong US jobs report raising expectations the Federal Reserve will soon lift interest rates.
At 0645 AEDT on Monday, the March share price index futures contract was down 64 points at 5,826.
ELSEWHERE:
BEIJING - China's monthly trade surplus hit $US60.6 billion ($A77.95 billion) in February, a record for the world's second-largest economy.
WASHINGTON - The US economy pumped out a strong 295,000 net new jobs in February despite severe weather disruptions and mounting layoffs in the oil industry, the Labor Department reports.
WASHINGTON - The US trade deficit fell to $US41.8 billion ($A53.77 billion) in January, the Commerce Department says.
WASHINGTON - US consumers increased their borrowing in January at the slowest pace in more than a year with borrowing on credit cards actually declining for the second time in three months.
KUWAIT CITY - World crude prices are expected to gain this year or at least stabilise at between $US50 and $US60 ($A64-$A77) a barrel, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Ali al-Omair says.
LUXEMBOURG - France will commit 8.0 billion euros ($A11.35 billion) as part of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's plan to boost economic growth.
ATHENS - The Greek government plans to hire an army of amateur tax sleuths - including tourists - in a bid to fill the gaping hole in the country's finances.
NEW YORK - US tech giant Apple will join the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Index later this month, replacing telecom company AT&T, S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced.
BUDAPEST - Hungarians have taken advantage of the last opportunity to shop on Sundays before new regulations kick in greatly limiting opening hours for most stores.
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