WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is lower due to falling iron ore prices and concerns about slower Chinese economic growth.
At 0630 AEST on Wednesday, the local unit was trading at 92.45 US cents, down from 92.71 cents on Tuesday.
And the local share market is set for a weak start after Wall Street fell due to lower than expected earnings from several retailers.
At 0650 AEST on Wednesday, the March share price index futures contract was down 25 points at 5,405.
ELSEWHERE:
PARIS - Economic growth in Japan, Germany and Britain picked up strongly in the first quarter of the year, leading output in advanced countries which slowed down overall, the latest OECD data shows.
LONDON - Britain's 12-month inflation accelerated in April for the first time in 10 months, lifted by the later timing of Easter.
BRUSSELS - The European Commission says it has informed Credit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan of its reasons for believing they rigged interest rate benchmarks crucial to global financial markets.
SINGAPORE - Asia-Pacific trade ministers say they will intensify talks on a vast trans-Pacific free trade agreement but are offering no clue on when a final accord might be reached.
DETROIT - General Motors is recalling 2.4 million vehicles in the US as part of a broader effort to resolve outstanding safety issues more quickly.
ATLANTA - Home Depot's fiscal first quarter net income climbed 12 per cent, helped by better sales, but results fell short of expectations as a cold and rainy spring hurt results.
NEW YORK - Microsoft has unveiled a new Surface Pro tablet designed as a powerful all-purpose computer fit to replace a laptop.
NEW YORK - A surge of 30 orders this week took total bookings of Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft past 2,000, three years before the first one is to be delivered, the company has announced.
PARIS - Siemens has written to Alstom seeking information for a possible bid for the French energy and transportation company, French Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg says.
LONDON - Vodafone earnings will drop this year, in part due to rising costs, the British mobile phone giant has warned as it slashed the value of its European operations.
WARSAW - Italian auto giant Fiat plans to invest 563 million euros ($A834 million) in a new B-class model at two Polish plants, the government in Warsaw says.
Share
