Finance news you need to know today

NORTHERN Ireland says it wants a referendum on splitting from the UK, hours after Scotland demanded a new independence vote.

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

1. SYDNEY — The Australian market looks set to open higher after a mixed performance on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. At 0700 AEDT on Tuesday, the share price futures index was up 17 points at 5,775.

2. SYDNEY — Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is marginally higher as the greenback steadies ahead of the Fed’s expected interest rate lift, which would make US assets more attractive and consequently boost the US dollar. The local currency was trading at 75.75 US cents at 0700 AEDT on Tuesday, from 75.71 on Monday.

3. LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to clear the final hurdle standing between her and the start of Brexit negotiations after MPs voted to throw out changes to a bill giving her the power to start the EU exit process.

4. LONDON — Theresa May’s spokesman has emphasised the word ‘end’ after being asked at what point in March the prime minister was planning to trigger formal divorce talks with the European Union.

5. BELFAST — Northern Ireland’s largest Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein says it wants a referendum on splitting from the United Kingdom “as soon as possible”, hours after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanded a new independence vote.

6. EDINBURGH — Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has demanded a new Scottish independence referendum to be held in late 2018 or early 2019, once the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union are clear.

7. MUNICH — Ahead of her trip to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said in a speech that free trade is important for both the United States and Germany.

8. WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump is planning to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at a two-day summit next month at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, according to media reports.

9. WASHINGTON — The White House press secretary says President Donald Trump will donate his presidential salary at the end of the year.