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.
The Australian dollar has drifted higher following a rally on global share markets and expectations that the greenback will trade within a narrow range.
The big four banks have defended their lending standards after a report linked them to companies accused of illegal land grabs in developing countries.
