Financial Markets, Stocks & Commodities

Australian reports

• Aust markets: Aust stocks end higher
• Aust dollar report: $A retreats from three-month high
• Aust credit close: Australian bond prices recover

World reports

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

Stocks to watch

RMD, TOL, WPL, BHP,

Fitch downgrades Italy, Spain

Ratings agency Fitch is downgrading the credit ratings of five countries that use the euro, including economic heavyweights Italy and Spain.

Finance chiefs reassure Europe on track

Leading finance chiefs have sought to reassure anxious global business leaders that Europe is on track to solve its crippling debt crisis.

US economy grows 2.8pc

The US economy grew at a 2.8 per cent annual rate in the final three months of last year.

Facebook to go public next week: report

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 27 DPA 08:20AM Social media giant Facebook is preparing to file for its initial public offering as early as next Wednesday in a flotation that would value the company between 75 billion dollars (...

Greece a 'step away' from debt deal

ATHENS, Jan 27 AFP 06:22AM Greece says it is "a step away" from a major debt writedown as it resumes talks with private creditors to escape a looming default and stem further turmoil in the eurozone.

European stocks fall on US growth data

LONDON, Jan 27 AFP 05:21AM European stock indices fell back on Friday on concerns over Greece's ability to reduce its massive debt and the release of disappointing US economic growth data.