Finance news you need to know today

ISRAEL has expressed muted concern over a major arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

THE Australian market looks set to open solidly higher, following the positive leads of Wall Street and other international markets in the previous session. At 0700 AEST on Monday, the share price futures index was up 26 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 5,5752.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is higher against a weakening US counterpart with the US dollar index falling to a six-month low. The local currency was trading at 74.53 US cents at 0700 AEST on Monday, from 74.29 on Friday.

ELSEWHERE:

HANOI — Countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have agreed to look at ways to move the trade deal forward without the United States after President Donald Trump pulled out in favour of an “America First” policy.

JERUSALEM — Israel has expressed muted concern over a major arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia announced a day earlier during the visit to the region by US President Donald Trump.

ZURICH — Swiss voters have backed the government’s plan to provide billions of dollars in subsidies for renewable energy, ban new nuclear plants and help bail out struggling utilities in a binding referendum.

BERLIN — German carmaker BMW has opened its third intelligent assembly plant in the Chinese city of Shenyang, where the firm operates one of its major global production centres, official Xinhua news agency reported.