Jamelle Agbuis

The AUD is currently treading water justabove the parity level this morning prior to the Chinesedata which is due to be released today.

Strong underlying Chinese economic data spurred the Aussie's rally to 1.0070 against the Greenback overnight.

U.S. stocks traded in a tight range Monday, as Wal-Mart weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but materials gained in the wake of a surge of Chinese exports and imports last month.

US President Obama has unveiled his fiscal 2012 budget proposal. The aim is to reduce the budget deficit by US$1.1 trillion over the next decade and cut the deficit from 10.9pct of GDP to 3.2pct of GDP by 2015.

The Australian Dollar has opened trading thismorning at 1.0000 after being sold off on Friday to a low of 0.9960.

U.S. stocks climbed Friday, concluding a second-straight week of gains at fresh 21/2 year closing highs after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down.

The Australian Dollar fell below parity for the first time since the start of month following comments from RBA Governor Glenn Stevens who suggested interest rates may remain stationary for most of the year.

Egypt's President Mubarak resigned on Friday, handing power to the army, with the news sending US stocks higher, but oil prices and the US dollar lower.

The Australian sharemarket is falling for the first time in nine sessions with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) off by 0.3 pct or 15.5 pts to 4986.2.

The AUD is trading lower this morning,weighed down by better than expected US employment data overnight.

The Australian Dollar opens weaker against the greenback this morning at 1.0035.

U.S. stocks erased most of their early losses Thursday amid reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will soon resign.

US wholesale inventories rose by a higher-than-expected 1pct in December to $430.5 billion - its highest level in almost two years.

The US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave testimony to Congress on Wednesday. While Bernanke is encouraged by recent economic data, he notes that unemployment remains too high.

The AUD appears to be lacking direction ahead of today's employment data release.

U.S. stocks slipped Wednesday, as investors balanced a pair of positive blue chip earnings reports against concerns that the market may be set for a breather after seven straight days of gains.

Domestic consumer confidence data for February came in at 1.9% yesterday which was a major improvement on the January figure (negative 5.7%) however, the Aussie retreated marginally during the Asian trading session touching US101.30 cents.

The consumer sector led U.S. stocks higher Tuesday after McDonald's posted strong January sales, putting the Dow Jones Industrial Average on track for its seventh straight gain.

The People´s Bank of China has lifted interest rates for the second time in just over a month. The 1-year deposit rate will be lifted 25 basis points to 3.00pct while the 1-year lending rate is up 25bps to 6.06pct.

The Australian Dollar was choppy last night following the decision by the People's Bank of China(PboC) to raise benchmark lending rates by 0.25% to6.06%, the second rate hike in six weeks.

The Aussie traded a familiar recent band during local trade on Tuesday between 1.0115, where the currency is finding some support, and a high around 1.0135. Despite a lack of direction, the Aussie has been buoyed recently on the back of firmer commodity markets and improving economic data coming out of the United States.

The US Conference Board employment trends index lifted for the fourth straight month, up from 100.3 to 100.5 In January. The gauge is a leading index for the job market and it stands 7pct higher than a year ago.

The Australian Dollar is relatively unchangedthis morning at USD 1.0130 after firming slightly duringyesterday's local session.

The Australian Dollar touched 1.0200 onFriday evening before the US non-farm payroll data forJanuary was released.

U.S. stocks rose slightly Friday, contributing to the market's biggest weekly gain in two months, as strong earnings boosted the technology sector and traders largely chalked up a disappointing January jobs report to stormy weather.

The Aussie rallied half-a-US-cent during local trade on Friday hitting a high of 1.0199 after The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) signalled in its quarterly monetary policy statement that further rate rises are on the cards.

S non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by just 36,000 in January. While the report was well short of expectations of job gains near 148,000, weakness was attributed to harsh snow storms in the month.

The Aussie market finished higher for the third straight day today with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) rising 0.8 pct or 39.5 pts to 4958.8.

The Australian sharemarket is gaining at lunch and is edging its way closer to the key 5000 pt mark, a level it has not traded above for an extended period of time since 2008.