Financial Markets, Stocks & Commodities

Australian reports

• Aust markets: Australian market set to open higher
• Aust dollar report: $A rebounds from six-year lows
• Aust credit close: Aust bond futures prices tumble

World reports

• World commodities: Commodities markets summary
• World markets: International markets roundup

Stocks to watch

BPT, SVW, FDC, NVN, NVT, PYL, WPL, OSH, STO,

Uber backs research into driverless cars

Uber is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University on a research lab both which could lead to the development of driverless cars.

Vocus and Spark form joint venture

Australian fibre network and datacentre company Vocus enters a joint venture with Spark NZ to form a new construction unit.

Echo doubles first half profit to $97.1m

Casino operator Echo has more than doubled its first half net profit to $97.1 million as revenue lifts 25 per cent.

Commonwealth Bank passes on rate cut

The Commonwealth Bank has lowered its standard variable rate for homeowners by a quarter of a percentage point in response to the RBA's rate cut.

Services sector starts 2015 on front foot

After a year of decline, Australia's services sector is on the cusp of expansion, with Tuesday's rate cut expected to provide even more of a boost.

Entrepreneurs brainstorm in Antarctica

More than 100 Aussie business people wrap up a unique brain-storming session in Antarctica amid hopes the trip will help reinvigorate entrepreneurialism.