Finance news you need to know today

VOLKSWAGEN engineers admit to installing the pollution-cheating device, while the company launches a website for customers to check if they are affected.

A Volkswagen logo adorns a sign outside a dealership for the German automaker located in the Sydney suburb of Artarmon, Australia, October 3, 2015. Volkswagen said on Saturday it was suspending sales of some diesel vehicles in Australia that may have been fitted with devices designed to mask the level of emissions after meeting with authorities. Almost two weeks after confirming 11 million vehicles around the world had been fitted with so called "defeat devices", the German automaker and subsidiary Audi have not provided details of the models or where they have been sold. REUTERS/David Gray

HERE are nine things making news in business and finance around the world today:

1. SYDNEY — The Australian dollar is higher against its weaker US counterpart following the release of weaker than expected US jobs figures.

At 0700 AEDT on Monday, the local unit was trading at 70.59 US cents, up from 70.46 cents on Friday.

2. SYDNEY — The Australian share market looks set to open solidly higher after US and European shares rose despite disappointing US jobs data, seen as pushing back the timing of a US interest rate rise. At 0645 AEDT on Monday, the December share price index futures contract was up 67 points at 5,098.

3. BERLIN — Several engineers at scandal-hit German automaker Volkswagen have admitted to installing the device in the company’s cars aimed at cheating pollution tests, a newspaper says.

4. BERLIN — Scandal-hit Volkswagen has opened a web page for customers to check if their diesel vehicle is fitted with a device aimed at cheating pollution tests.

5. WASHINGTON — The United States has added far fewer jobs than expected in September and hiring was weaker in the prior two months, the Labor Department says, pointing to a slowing economy.

6. ATHENS — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he wants to move fast with the bailout program so Greece can cast off the creditors’ tutelage and return to the markets.

7. JOHANNESBURG — More than 30,000 workers began an indefinite strike after wage negotiations in South Africa’s coal industry failed.

8. WASHINGTON — Talks aimed at finalising a trade deal between Australia, the United States and 10 other Pacific Rim countries have been extended, reports say.

9. NEW YORK — Online US stock brokerage company Scottrade says the names and addresses of about 4.6 million of its customers may have been stolen by hackers.