WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar is firmer despite a stronger greenback following better-than-expected US service sector data.
At 0630 AEDT on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 89.16 US cents, up from 88.93 US cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open higher, despite a negative lead from Wall Street which fell following disappointing US jobs data.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the March share price index futures contract was up nine points at 5,027.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The US economy added 175,000 private-sector jobs in January, fewer than in December, with severe winter weather taking its toll on job growth, payrolls firm ADP says.
WASHINGTON - Economic activity in the vast US services sector picked up in January, with companies reporting better business conditions and adding jobs, the Institute for Supply Management says.
BRUSSELS - Eurozone private sector business activity in January showed the best performance since June 2011, fresh evidence that a modest recovery is gaining traction, a key survey shows.
DUBLIN - Ireland's unemployment rate fell to 12.3 per cent in January, the lowest level since mid-2009, handing another boost to the eurozone nation after its recent bailout exit.
LISBON - Bailed-out Portugal's unemployment rate fell 0.3 points to 15.3 per cent in the final quarter of 2013, down also from the record 17.7 per cent at the start of the year.
LONDON - GlaxoSmithKline's net profits jumped by a fifth last year as lower taxes offset flat sales.
WHITEHOUSE STATION, New Jersey - Merck & Co has reported a 14 per cent decline in fourth-quarter profit as generic competition continued to cut into sales of one-time blockbuster medicines.
ZURICH - The world's biggest watch group Swatch has posted a 2013 net profit rise of more than 20 per cent, beating market expectations and hailing a promising start to the new year.
NEW YORK - Time Warner says its fourth-quarter net income dropped 12 per cent, as higher costs offset revenue growth.
