WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is firmer after Wall Street ended last week on a higher note.
At 0630 AEDT on Monday, the local unit was trading at 91.33 US cents, up from 91.02 cents on Friday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open lower after Wall Street closed mostly lower in a Thanksgiving public holiday shortened session.
At 0645 AEDT on Monday, the December share price index futures contract was down nine points at 5,320.
ELSEWHERE:
BEIJING - China's manufacturing growth in November maintained its strong pace from the previous month to stay at a 19-month high.
BEIJING - Chinese home prices rose faster in November than in the previous month and authorities are likely to introduce further changes to control the lively real estate market.
REYKJAVIK - The Icelandic government says it will write up to 24,000 euros ($A36,095) off the mortgage of every household, making good on an election campaign promise despite international warnings over the plan.
WASHINGTON - Online US shopping for Black Friday deals soared to $US3 billion ($A3.30 billion) during a two-day period beginning Thursday, with tablets and mobile phones as top must-have items, estimates showed.
KAMPALA - The five nations in the East African Community regional economic bloc have signed an agreement to adopt a common currency.
TEHRAN - Major carmakers and parts suppliers have showed up in Tehran to assess the Iranian market's "considerable potential", just one week after Iran's historic nuclear agreement with world powers.
SYDNEY - Overseas online shopping continues to be a drain on Australian stores, as Christmas spending gets set to ramp up domestically.
SYDNEY - A solution to the looming debt ceiling breach remains up in the air with Prime Minister Tony Abbott refusing to say whether he will strike a deal with the Australian Greens.
