WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has lost ground after a rally sparked by strong Chinese trade figures lost steam.
At 0630 AEDT on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 90.30 US cents, down from 90.64 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher following gains on international markets after new Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen's promise that monetary policy would continue and strong Chinese trade data.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the March share price index futures contract was up 10 points at 5,273.
ELSEWHERE:
VIENNA - Firming growth in leading economies pushed OPEC to raise its estimate for global demand for oil this year.
LONDON - The Bank of England has ramped up its 2014 British economic growth forecast and tweaked its forward guidance on interest rates.
NEW DELHI - India's industrial output has shrunk by 0.6 per cent in the third straight monthly contraction, piling pressure on the government to spur the economy before elections.
WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund says Iran's economy faces deep structural weaknesses as intensified nuclear sanctions have added to other domestic challenges to the government.
NEW YORK - US media and financial information giant Thomson Reuters says it swung to a loss in the fourth quarter as it cited "headwinds" in its restructuring drive.
MILAN - Italian luxury company Prada says sales rose 9.0 per cent to 3.856 billion euros ($A5.86 billion) in its latest financial year thanks to sales in the Asia-Pacific region and North America.
THE HAGUE - Leading Dutch bank ING is reporting a 22.3 per cent slump in net profit for 2013, blaming special factors and saying it will pursue its deep restructuring program this year.
PARIS - French bank Societe Generale says it net profit tripled last year thanks to an improved balance sheet and it would more than double the dividend payout to shareholders.
MINNEAPOLIS - Deere & Co says its first-quarter net income has risen almost five per cent, but it projected a slowdown in sales of farm equipment this year.
