WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has dropped to a new six-year low ahead of local unemployment data.
At 0630 AEDT on Thursday, the local currency was trading at 75.82 US cents, down from 76.05 cents on Wednesday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open flat ahead of local jobs data and following a lacklustre performance on Wall Street.
At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the March share price index futures contract was up six points at 5,792.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund has approved a $US17.5 billion ($A22.97 billion) aid plan for crisis-wracked Ukraine, whose economy is reeling from a pro-Russia insurgency in its industrial heartland.
ATHENS - Greece has raised 1.3 billion euros ($A1.93 billion) in three-month treasury bills at higher interest in an ongoing scramble for cash.
STOCKHOLM - Wireless equipment maker Ericsson will cut 2,200 jobs in Sweden as part of a nine billion kronor ($A1.44 billion) savings package.
MIAMI - The former chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line is suing British billionaire Richard Branson and his Virgin Group conglomerate, claiming that Virgin essentially stole his ideas and business plans to enter the lucrative luxury cruise industry by building a pair of state-of-the-art ships capable of carrying 4,200 passengers each.
MOSCOW - Russia's car market is in freefall. As financial turmoil in the country makes vehicles more expensive by the day, demand for many brands has almost evaporated.
MEXICO CITY - Dutch brewing giant Heineken plans to invest 7.35 billion pesos ($A627 million) in its seventh plant in Mexico, a facility in the northern border state of Chihuahua.
WELLINGTON - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has kept its interest rate on hold in its latest quarterly monetary policy statement.
WASHINGTON - Apple's online stores for product and app purchases has gone down for at least six hours, affecting its customers worldwide.
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