Sharon Olalia

The Australian share market closed marginally higher on thin trading volumes in the absence of a lead from Wall Street due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

A number of banks have confirmed National Australia Bank's (ASX: NAB) unresolved technical glitch that occurred Wednesday had affected their transactions.

Oil and gas producer Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Australian Carbon Trust today signed an agreement to develop a strategic alliance for dedicated and more accessible financing, designed to accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency technologies and practices by Australian businesses.

Australia's Senate passed legislation on Friday to force dominant phone company Telstra Corp (ASX: TLS) to separate its wholesale and retail arms. This 'paves the way' for the Canberra's planned $36 billion national broadband network.

US markets were closed overnight for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The Reserve Bank of Australia does not believe the banks are over-charging mortgage borrowers.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hinted on Friday it is likely to hold the cash rate at 4.75 percent for the rest of the year.

The AUD has opened slightly higher this morning, despite thin trading conditions with the Thanksgiving holiday in the US overnight.

The Aussie opens around the US98 cent mark today after yet another volatile 24 hours.

The main European equity markets advanced Thursday as a strong finish on Wall Street offset worries about sovereign debt in peripheral euro-zone countries.

The European Commission and German Government have denied a news report that European officials were considering doubling the size of a rescue fund to support the Euro.

The Australian stock market posted moderate gains on Thursday, amid sluggish trading conditions ahead of a public holiday in the US.

The Virgin Blue Group of Airlines Brisbane Domestic Terminal will undergo a multi-million major refurbishment that will include an upgrade of existing facilities on both the arrivals and departures concourse.

Life insurer Tower Australia Group Ltd (ASX:TAL) today announced an increase in underlying profit of 24 per cent to $92.3 million for the year ended 30 September 2010.

Australian stocks have kicked off today's trading with a rally after the negative start yesterday, as concerns over the Korean skirmish and the Irish bailout package subsided.

Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC), the owner and operator of Perth Airport, today announced its plans to invest up to $500 million over the next three years to deliver new and expanded passenger terminals, expanded aircraft parking areas and expanded public access infrastructure.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) has confirmed it experienced a major IT outage resulting in payments made overnight not appearing in potentially "millions" of customers' accounts.

Queensland businesses are the most likely to expect weaker Christmas trading conditions across Australia, according to the Sensis Business Index released today.

More consumers are playing Scrooge this holiday season as two thirds of Australians are planning to spend less on gifts, sale shopping and family entertainment, according to a new survey by a finance comparison website.

Renewed demand for growth related assets pushed the AUD higher overnight.

The Aussie spent most of yesterday recovering from the previous session's losses owing to the military flare-up on the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. investors geared up for the holiday shopping season by snapping up retail stocks, erasing almost all of Tuesday's sharp declines as the latest economic data painted an improving picture for U.S. growth.

The final US consumer sentiment reading for November rose from 67.7 to 71.6.

The market made a late recovery to only close down a couple of points at the close today with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) losing 0.1pct or 3.7pts to 4673.2.

The Australian share market closed steady after regaining early losses as investors bought into stocks weakened by concerns about European sovereign debt and tensions on the Korean peninsula

Bankers today warned politicians of the possible consequences of going ahead with the Green's banking bill.

The outlook in the building and construction sector is concerning as government stimulus spending winds down, says the peak body of the industry.

The value of construction work done unexpectedly slumped in the September quarter, led by a drop in completed residential buildings compared with the previous three months.

The September 2010 quarter housing affordability in Sydney was 20.8 per cent lower than a year earlier, while regional NSW affordability was down by 18.7 per cent, according to the HIA-Commonwealth Bank Affordability Report released today.