WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has jumped one US cent higher after the release of the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting.
The currency shot as high as 88.47 US cents, from 87.34 just before the minutes were released at 0500 AEDT on Thursday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher following gains of more than one per cent on Wall Street.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the December share price index futures contract was up 51 points at 5,276.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The economic impact of the ebola epidemic could reach $US32.6 billion ($A35.27 billion) by the end of 2015 if the disease ravaging Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone spreads to neighbouring countries in West Africa, the World Bank Group says.
WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve officials agreed last month that they would begin raising interest rates only when measures of the US economy's health and inflation signalled the time was right.
WASHINGTON - A new report says the US government's budget deficit has fallen to $US486 billion ($A525.8 billion), the smallest pool of red ink of President Barack Obama's six-year span in office,
PARIS - The OECD has pointed to a weak outlook for growth in the eurozone, particularly in Germany, as its index of leading economic indicators pointed to stable growth elsewhere.
LONDON - The London Metal Exchange has won a Court of Appeal battle in its bid to bring in rule changes it says would lower market prices.
BRUSSELS - The EU has approved Britain's ambitious $US26 billion ($A28.13 billion) plan to build its first nuclear plant for a generation, with French and Chinese help, marking a major victory for nuclear energy three years after the Fukushima disaster.
WASHINGTON - AT&T will pay $US105 million ($A113.6 million) to settle investigations that it tacked on charges to mobile phone bills for unauthorised third-party services such as horoscopes and "fun facts," officials say.
PARIS - Struggling Air France has revealed that a record pilots' strike last month cost around 500 million euros, in a dire profit warning that's sent its stock price into a tailspin.
ST LOUIS, United States - Monsanto has reported a loss of $US156 million ($A168.8 million) in its fiscal fourth quarter.
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