WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has picked up pace after the US Federal Reserve left rates on hold and flagged a more gradual tightening path.
At 0700 AEST on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 74.08 US cents, up from 73.80 cents on Wednesday.
The Australian share market looks set to open lower after Wall Street fell for a fifth straight session after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged.
Investors also continued to worry over Britain's possible exit from the European Union ahead of next week's vote.
At 0645 AEST on Thursday, the share price index was down two points at 5,159.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve has kept US interest rates unchanged and signalled it still planned two hikes this year.
WASHINGTON - Falling auto production fuelled a broader decline in US industrial output in May, a potentially worrying sign that manufacturers face economic challenges.
BEIJING - Chinese banks extended 985.5 billion yuan ($A202.46 billion) in new yuan loans in May, exceeding analysts' expectations and well above the previous month's levels, as the central bank keeps policy accommodative to support the slowing economy.
MADRID - Spanish clothes retailer Inditex, which owns the Zara store chain, says net profit for its first fiscal quarter rose six per cent thanks to greater sales globally.
ABUJA - Nigeria will float its embattled naira currency, the Central Bank governor has announced after months of pressure to control a spiraling crisis in Africa's biggest economy.
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