The Dow has closed at a fresh record high as US stocks rallied, with investors shrugging off mixed earnings reports and uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
The Australian dollar remains well above 93.5 US cents after better than expected employment figures fuelled hopes of a sustained jobs market recovery.
US stocks have finished mostly higher following more-conciliatory statements by Russia's president amid the Ukraine crisis, but weak earnings from some technology stocks pushed the Nasdaq into the red.
Copper and gold explorer Stavely Minerals debuted on the ASX today in what was the first float by a Western Australia-based minerals play in more than a year.
US stocks have retreated as a sell-off in Twitter revived worries about the tech sector and disappointing earnings from insurer AIG hit financial stocks.
US stocks have finished higher after struggling to get out of the losing column, shrugging off poor industrial data from China and growing violence in Ukraine.
A range of sophisticated and institutional investors have been named as some of the major shareholders in financial services firm Pioneer Credit following its $40.2 million IPO.
The Australian share market is up after Australia's second largest bank, Westpac, announced a big rise in earnings and signs the US economy is strengthening.
US stocks have finished higher for the week, even with intensifying concerns over Ukraine partially offsetting positive sentiment from some strong economic reports and accelerating Wall Street deal-making.
Investment bank Macquarie Group says strengthening global market conditions have helped boost its annual profit and expects further improvements from its business to come.
The Australian dollar is under pressure as talk of possible tax hikes in the government's budget fuels expectations that interest rates will stay on hold for longer.
