Australian dollar - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Business conditions slump to four-year low

  The Australian economy is stuck in a rut, with business conditions tumbling to their lowest level in four years despite low interest rates and a falling Australian dollar.

• Joke from RBA boss falls flat

  If Reserve Bank boss Glenn Stevens was trying to make a joke, it wasn't very funny.

• $A dealt a triple blow this week

  Farmers, local tourism operators and manufacturers are getting better news everyday as the Australian dollar falls even further.

• Halcyon days for the $A are over - Oliver

  The Australian dollar has enjoyed a huge surge on the back of booming mining and resources export prices but that is unlikely to happen again, a leading economist says.

• Import/export firms see surging $A

  Businesses expect the pain of a high exchange rate to intensify over the coming year, with exporters saying they will respond by slashing their investment spending.

• Amcor to cut about 300 jobs

  Packaging giant Amcor will cut about 300 jobs at three manufacturing sites in Victoria and Queensland, blaming the high value of the Australian dollar and increasing cost pressures.

• $A forecast to maintain its value

  It's more good news for those travelling overseas and more bad news for manufacturers, farmers, local tourism operators and exporters.

• Outlook improves for Aust exporters

  Australian exporters are expecting increased orders and profits as they innovate offerings and seek new markets to offset the high Aussie dollar.

• Bipolar market closes sharply lower

  A strong market recovery in the afternoon's trading went just as quickly as it came, with key indices closing almost as low as during the midday slump

• Codan reports record FY11 profit

  Electronic products developer Codan Limited (ASX:CDA) earned a record $21.8m profit in FY11, but saw declines in underlying profit and revenue

• ResMed, HeartWare boost June quarter revenue

  Medical device manufacturers ResMed (ASX:RMD) and HeartWare (ASX:HIN) both lifted their June-quarter revenue significantly

• Trade surplus narrows, retail turnover shrinks: ABS

  Australia's international trade surplus fell a seasonally adjusted $647m in June but remains over $2b, while retailer turnover fell slightly, ABS data shows

• Australian dollar breaks another record

  With the Reserve Bank still hawkish on interest rates and the US still prevaricating on the debt ceiling, it’s no surprise that the Australian dollar has continued its upward climb.

• Australian exporters confident for future

  Nine in ten Australian exporters expect to grow revenues from the practice in the next year, even as they grapple with rising costs, according to a survey

• Adacel forecasts $3m pre-tax loss for FY11

  Adacel Technologies (ASX:ADA) now expects a $3m FY11 pre-tax loss, despite previously anticipating breaking out the black ink for the year