A disappointing forecast from Wal-Mart and weakness in oil stocks have pushed the Dow lower, while the Nasdaq edged closer to 5,000 thanks to strong results from Priceline.
The share market has closed lower as investors took profits from the rally sparked by a massive takeover offer for Toll, and many celebrated the Chinese New Year.
US stocks have recovered from early losses to finish little-changed as Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggested it would wait longer before raising interest rates.
The Australian dollar has hit a one-week high, helped by optimism about the European economy and that a deal will be reached to keep Greece in the eurozone.
ANZ Banking Group has started 2015 on a disappointing note, with its first-quarter results generating concerns about the outlook for Australia's third largest bank.
QBE Insurance Group has entered into an agreement to sell its Australian and New Zealand agency businesses to insurance broker Steadfast Group in late March.
Personal loan provider and pawn broker Cash Converters International issued $23 million in loans in December, a new record, as its online business continued to grow.
The Australian dollar is lower, weighed down by expectations that the Reserve Bank will cut the cash rate for a second time in 2015 in the coming months.
When the Reserve Bank of Australia repeatedly throughout 2014 flagged a "period of stability" for interest rates, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was signalling a period of stability for interest rates.
The share market has rallied to a six-year high due to Rio Tinto's massive shareholder returns, rising oil prices and optimism from a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.
Balamara Resources has announced plans to delist from the Australian Securities Exchange after citing the high cost of maintaining its listing and an inability to raise new capital.
