WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has fallen to a new four-and-a-half-year low after the US central bank issued a more upbeat assessment of the US economy.
At 0700 AEDT on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 81.11 US cents, DOWN from 81.51 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher following gains of more than one per cent on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve said it won't rush to raise the interest rate.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the December share price index futures contract was up 45 points at 5,210.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The US Federal Reserve has made no changes to its monetary policy, saying it can remain 'patient' before moving to raise interest rates and normalising its easy-money stance.
WASHINGTON - The US Federal Reserve has sharply cut its forecast for inflation next year, saying it will remain far below its 2 per cent target through 2015.
WASHINGTON - The dramatic decline in global oil prices is good for the US economy, as consumers gain extra dollars to boost spending, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says.
WASHINGTON - The US current account trade deficit widened slightly in the July-September quarter, largely due to foreign institutions paying less in fines and penalties to the US government.
WASHINGTON - Plunging fuel costs caused US consumer prices to drop in November, muting inflation across the entire economy.
MOSCOW - Russia has scrambled to halt a run on the rouble, selling billions of reserves to prop up the currency in the worst economic crisis of President Vladimir Putin's 15 years in power.
LONDON - Britain's unemployment rate has remained at a five-year low of 6.0 per cent while wages are rising, official data shows.
LONDON - The British government plans to sell a STG3 billion ($A5.48 billion) chunk of its stake in part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group, which was bailed out by taxpayers during the 2008 financial crisis.
MADRID - Spanish builder Acciona says a consortium it is part of has signed a contract worth 1.4 billion euros ($A2.1 billion) to build and operate a light rail line through Sydney.
Share
