Finance news you need to know today

BURNS surgeons are warning of the dangers of electronic cigarettes after treating a string of smokers injured by exploding devices.

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

1. SYDNEY — The Australian dollar has risen against the US dollar. At 0635 AEST on Monday, the local unit was trading at 75.97 US cents, up from 75.73 cents on Friday.

2. SYDNEY — The Australian market looks set to open slightly higher despite major international markets falling in the last session. At 0645 AEDT on Monday, the share price index was up eight points at 5,458.

3. WASHINGTON — World finance officials have promised to co-operate more closely and use all their policy tools to bolster an anaemic global recovery now threatened by an antitrade backlash in the US and renewed market unease about Britain’s planned exit from the European Union.

4. WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund will not join the Greek bailout program but will likely accept a special advisory status with limited powers that keeps it at the table, two senior sources with direct knowledge of the proposals say.

5. WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is lifting US economic sanctions on the former pariah state of Myanmar.

6. BEIJING — China’s State Council, or cabinet, says the country is committed to improving access for foreign companies in China, as part of “a new round of high-level opening up”.

7. BEIJING — Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group’s media arm has announced a partnership to co-produce films for global audiences.

8. LOS ANGELES — Chinese hardware upstart LeEco has accidentally showed off key parts of its device line-up two weeks before the company is set to officially launch its US business.

9. SWANSEA, Wales — Burns surgeons in the UK are warning of the dangers of electronic cigarettes after treating a string of smokers injured by exploding devices.