Financial Services

About $5.6 million owed to thousands of Western Australians is lying unclaimed in the Department of Treasury’s register of unclaimed money database, Treasurer Mike Nahan says.

One of Australia's most prominent businesswomen, Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly, is stepping down after seven years at the bank's helm, to be replaced by Brian Hartzer.

Australia's share market has opened flat as the major miners lifted but the big banks weakened.

Wall Street's five-day record run has ended after huge fines for rigging the foreign exchange market sent the shares of three leading US banks tumbling.

The Australian dollar is higher, supported by a weaker yen and a surging New Zealand dollar.

The Australian share market has closed sharply lower, pulled back by weakness among the big banks and the major miners.

Westpac boss Gail Kelly has become one of the country's highest paid executives, with her pay packet swelling to around $13 million.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chairman David Turner says Australia's largest lender is "cautiously positive" about 2015 financial year.

US stocks have set fresh records for the fifth straight session, but just barely, amid holiday-dampened trade.

The Australian dollar has hit 100 Japanese yen for the first time in 18 months, giving the local currency a leg-up against the greenback.

The share market has closed lower as a broad drop in commodity prices weighed on energy and resources stocks.

The amount of home loan-backed securities held by the Reserve Bank of Australia has increased 25 fold to help banks settle day-to-day transactions.

The Australian share market is flat, weighed down by the mining stocks.

US stock markets have soared to fresh records, but internet broadband carriers were hit hard by President Barack Obama's call for tough net neutrality rules.

The Australian dollar is lower as the greenback regains ground following its post-jobs report slump.

The share market has started the week on a negative note due to falls by the big banks.

Crown Resorts chairman James Packer has appointed banker Robert Rankin to oversee his multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio.

The Australian share market has opened weaker as profit taking dents banking stocks.

From Saturday, November 8:

The Australian dollar has surged more than one US cent higher on the back of disappointing US employment data.

The Australian share market has closed higher despite two of the major banks going ex-dividend.

Soft economic conditions have resulted in P&N Bank taking a significant hit to its earnings with the credit society reporting a 30 per cent fall in profit.

Jobseekers looking for encouraging news in the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest assessment of the economy will be disappointed.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher on positive leads from Wall Street but it's under pressure as two major banks go ex-dividend.

The Dow and S&P 500 has closed at new record highs for the second day in a row as US investors look ahead to Friday's jobs report.

The Australian dollar is lower amid further worries about weak economic growth in Europe.

The Health Insurance Fund of Australia has broken through the $100 million revenue mark for the first time, reporting income of $106 million from premiums.

The Australian share market has closed lower after weaker than expected unemployment figures wiped out earlier gains.

The Australian share market has opened higher after US markets hit new highs.

The Dow and S&P 500 have both closed at fresh records after the Republicans took power in both US Houses of Congress and lifted hopes for pro-business policies.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a four-year low after the Republican win in the US midterm elections and as metal prices continue to slide.

Australian shares are slightly lower as investor caution weighs on some of the nation's biggest stocks.