Finance news you need to know today

A MEXICAN cement maker is ready to lend its services to Donald Trump to build the wall he wants to erect on the southern border of the US.

HERE are 11 things making news in business and finance today.

1. SYDNEY — The Australian dollar is half a US cent lower as the US dollar hits multi-year peaks after upbeat economic data reinforced expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate rise. At 0635 AEDT on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 73.84 US cents, down from 74.32 cents on Wednesday.

2. SYDNEY — The Australian market looks set to open slightly lower after Wall Street has mainly fallen despite the Dow Jones hitting a record high for the third straight session. At 0645 AEDT on Thursday, the share price index was down eight points at 5,5488.

3. WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve policymakers appeared confident on the eve of the US presidential election that the economy was strengthening enough to warrant interest rate increases soon, minutes from the Fed’s November 1-2 meeting show.

4. LONDON — Britain is ramping up its borrowing forecasts by much more than expected and says the vote to leave the European Union will weigh heavily on the economy, giving the government little room to ease the Brexit pressure on households and companies.

5. LONDON — Business activity across the euro zone accelerated in November to its fastest growth rate this year, according to a survey.

6. CAPE TOWN — South Africa has done enough to create growth and avoid a ratings downgrade to junk status, President Jacob Zuma has told parliament ahead of a country review by rating agencies.

7. STOCKHOLM — The first case of H5N8 bird flu has been detected in Sweden amid a recent outbreak of the disease in Europe, the Swedish Board of Agriculture says.

8. SAO PAULO — Federal prosecutors and Odebrecht SA have agreed on the world’s biggest plea and leniency deal under which the embattled engineering conglomerate would pay around 7 billion reais ($A2.8 billion) in fines related to its role in Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal, local media reported.

9. BERLIN — Germany’s highest court has rejected a case brought by Yahoo against a law designed to compensate news publishers for the use of their content.

10. FRANKFURT — Pilots at Germany’s Lufthansa say they’re extending strikes by another 24 hours, with the walkout on the third day affecting short-haul flights out of country on Friday.

11. MEXICO CITY — A Mexican cement maker is ready to lend its services to US President-elect Donald Trump to build the wall he wants to erect on the southern border of the United States to curb immigration.