Christine Gaylican

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Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is higher on improving global market sentiment despite yesterday's decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut rates by 0.25% to 3.00%, thereby equaling the record low of April 2009.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar held its ground overnight, following positive news regarding Greece and Spain, and is poised ahead of the RBA's interest rate decision today.

Stocks edged mostly higher, led by sectors seen as defensive, as weak spending and income data offset German parliamentary approval of bailout funds for Greece.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened in the low 1.0400's this morning as financial markets moved very little over the weekend.

After statements from lawmakers sent stocks into a brief tailspin, stock trading settled down with benchmarks solidly in positive ground by mid-afternoon Thursday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD traded at a high of 1.048 yesterday afternoon after House Speaker John Boehner offered a downbeat assessment of progress in budget talks in Washington. AUD currently trading at around 1.043.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Australian dollar strengthens in morning trade as the US Fiscal Cliff continues to dominate markets.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is steady, after markets in the US and Europe cautiously welcomed a bailout deal reached by the ECB/EU/IMF, on Greek loans and some better-than-expected US economic data.

In response to a weekend news article that claimed mortgage brokers fail to adequately disclose to customers the commissions they receive from lenders, Mortgage Choice CEO Michael Russell, one of Australia's largest independently-operated firms, seeks to set the record straight.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is little changed in quiet trade as markets play a waiting game on developments out of Washington and Brussels.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is trading half way between USD 1.0400 and 1.0500 following rallies on global stock markets at the end of last week.

AFTERNOON REPORT (5pm AEDT)Local stocks closed flat today, following yesterday's impressive rally, and with Wall Street closed overnight for Thanksgiving. It's expected to be another quiet session in the US tonight, with no economic data scheduled for release. European markets rose overnight on improving Chinese manufacturing data, while markets around the Asian region were generally higher today.

With US markets closed overnight for the Thanksgiving holiday, all eyes were on Europe where EU leaders began a two-day meeting to discuss and set the Euro bloc's next seven-year budget.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened slightly firmer this morning but trading ranges overnight have been very tight due to the US Thanksgiving holiday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Australian Dollar opens little changed after a subdued overnight session. The Australian Dollar has this morning opened at 1.0364 against the Greenback after trading to a low of 1.0339 overnight.

Comments from Central Bankers have been in focus in the last day. Locally RBA Governor Stevens presented a picture of the RBA being alert but not alarmed. In a speech the Governor delivered on Wednesday evening, he reflected on the Chinese slowdown being 'more material' than the Bank had predicted, although the outcome wasn't a 'disaster'.

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Risk assets were fairly choppy throughout European and US trade, but managed to edge higher into the close. Market participants continued to monitor the wires for a potential deal on Greece as European leaders meet.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly lower this morning following falls on US stock markets and a signal the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may cut the cash rate again in the near future.

Hopes the US government will reach a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff saw US share markets soar overnight, with the Dow Jones Index adding more than 200 points. Local stocks have followed suit, adding to yesterday's 0.5pct gain with another 0.6pct win today. By close, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was higher by 24.9pts to 4407.5pts.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average staged a triple-digit advance Monday, as investors rooted for signs of a compromise in Washington on the impending fiscal cliff. The Dow industrials climbed 160 points, or 1.3%, to 12748 in afternoon trading. Friday, it had risen 46 points to snap a four-session losing streak, although the blue-chip benchmark has lost ground for four consecutive weeks

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has rallied on positive sentiment overnight amidst hopes the US will avoid their "fiscal cliff".

Since the GFC investors have become accustomed to political inertia at pivotal moments when bipartisanship or farsighted initiatives are required. The matter of the 'Fiscal Cliff' is another inflection point in this regard. When pressed, most commentators would agree that the situation will be resolved to avert a crisis

Stocks posted their biggest daily gain Friday since the U.S. presidential election, after lawmakers said budget talks with the White House were "constructive." The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 45.93 points, or 0.4%, to 12588.31, reversing a morning slide of as much as 71 points.

Risk assets lost ground in Friday's European session, only to recover in US trade on optimism that fiscal cliff negotiations are progressing after US politicians met at the White House. Further Greece concerns and disappointing US industrial production numbers had seen risk sold off in European and early US trade.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is trading back in the mid 1.0300's this morning as talks in the US concerning the "fiscal cliff" offered some encouragement that a compromise will be reached between Republicans and Democrats.

U.S. STOCK MARKETSU.S. blue chips pared their declines Thursday afternoon but remained in the red, hurt by middling economic data and global political uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 42 points, or 0.3%, to 12529.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is lower after reports of large currency sales by the Reserve Bank of Australia and weak global market performances.