Christine Gaylican

U.S. stocks marched higher Tuesday on rising optimism about Greece's prospects to remain in the euro zone, which offset a disappointing reading on U.S. consumer confidence.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar is slightly lower overnight, as news that the Spanish government will need to bailout one of its largest banks, with the possibility of more bailouts to come.

While U.S. markets were closed for Memorial Day, European stock markets erased early gains Monday, as bank shares moved lower and pressure intensified on Spanish banks and the country's government bonds.Stocks had posted solid gains early in the session as investors' risk appetite was boosted after polls in Greece pointed to a victory for the pro-bailout New Democracy party ahead of next month's elections.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened this morning in the low 0.9800's as markets still focus on the European debt crisis with Spain starting to push Greece off the front page.

Stocks fell ahead of the long holiday weekend as reports of weakness in Spain underlined anxiety about the euro zone, outweighing a better-than-expected reading on U.S. consumer confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 74.92 points, or 0.6%, to 12454.83. Caterpillar fell 1.6% while International Business Machines dropped 0.9%, weighing on the price-weighted average.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: With worries a Greek exit would deepen the euro zone debt crisis and risk aversion continuing to mount this week, the Australian Dollar has continued track new lows.

U.S. stocks finished mostly higher after late afternoon comments from the Italian premier boosted confidence that Greece would stay in the euro zone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 34 points, or 0.3%, at 12530, after bouncing back from a 0.6% slide.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened this morning around USD.9760, after trading down to a low of USD0.9690 overnight as European equities followed Asia's lead falling around 2.5%.

U.S. stocks reversed steep losses to finish the day roughly flat, though European stocks and the euro tumbled to 2012 lows amid growing chatter about a potential Greek exit from the euro zone

Bell FX Currency Outlook: This morning the Australian dollar is over a US cent lower, currently trading at USD0.9790 after comments about the possibility of Greece leaving the Euro currency resulted in risk aversion trading, and in turn, a fall in the AUD.

U.S. stocks erased gains from a day spent mostly in positive territory to close flat Tuesday, as worries resurfaced in late trading about potential European instability.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is just north of USD 0.9900 after sentiment was boosted slightly due to supportive comments from policymakers.

The Nasdaq Composite index rose the most since December as hopes of political progress in Greece and talk of government efforts to buoy China's economy trumped a steep decline in Facebook's newly public stock

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar continues in languish in the 0.9800's after the G8 meeting held on the weekend produced no "revelations" of how to deal with the economic woes of Europe.

Blue chips extended a streak of declines the likes of which haven't been seen in almost 40 years, amid continued euro-zone concerns and Facebook's lackluster debut. The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its 12th loss in 13 sessions, the worst 13-session performance since October 1974. The average lost 73.11 points, or 0.6%, to 12369.38.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar losses its sparkle as European debt crisis fears worsen overnight.

Stocks extended their streak of declines Thursday as concerns about Spain's banks and a weak reading on mid-Atlantic business conditions outweighed upbeat earnings from Wal-Mart and Sears.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD is trading just above USD0.9900 this morning after falling to a low close to USD0.9870 overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for a fourth straight day as confusion over Greece's political future extended the recent stock slide. The blue-chip Dow lost 33.45 points, or 0.26%, to 12598.55, to finish at the day's lows.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened slightly lower again this morning after talks between Greece's political parties failed, which led to safe haven interest in the US Dollar and adding to the recent weakness in our own currency.

MORNING REPORT. The Empire manufacturing survey rebounded jumping from 6.56 to 17.09 in May. Across the sub-indices both new orders and shipments recorded healthy (7am AEST)US advance retail sales edged rose by 0.1pct in April after the brisk 0.8pct rise in Marchgains.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is close to parity with the USD after the weekend's announcement of China's second cut this year in the reserve ratio requirement for banks has provided no relief from the ongoing concerns of Europe.

The Dow industrials edged lower to cap their biggest weekly retreat of the year, as big trading losses at J.P. Morgan Chase weighed on sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34.44 points, or 0.3%, to 12820.60, erasing earlier gains after reports of a Securities and Exchange Commission review tied to J.P. Morgan's trading loss.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The local unit recovered some ground overnight only to open back below USD1.0100 this morning.

The Dow industrials broke a six-session losing streak Thursday as a potential breakthrough by Greek political leaders eased immediate concerns about the country's exit from the euro zone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 19.98 points, or 0.2%, to 12855.04. Blue chips survived a last-minute swoon, after having turned negative in the final minutes of the session, to snap their longest losing streak since August.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled for a sixth straight day Wednesday as investors remained focused on fresh concerns about Greece and Spain. The blue-chip Dow fell 97.03 points, or 0.75%, to 12835.06. It had been down as many as 184 points earlier in the session.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Commodity currencies were driven lower again overnight due to the ongoing uncertainty over the outlook for the euro zone.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEST)U.S. wholesale inventories rose 0.3pct in March to $480.4 billion, while wholesale sales rose 0.5pct to $411.1 billion. The inventories-to-sales ratio was unchanged at 1.17. Inventories of durable goods rose 1pct in March, while inventories of nondurables decreased 0.6pct. In February, total inventories grew 0.9pct, while sales rose 1.1pct.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Aussie has opened lower across the board this morning following a drop in the Euro, Oil and Stock markets as worries intensify over Greece.