Finance news you need to know today

BITCOIN has blasted to another all-time high of $US19,000, as concerns grow over the risks of investing in the highly volatile currency.

THE Australian share market looks set to open nearly half a per cent higher after signs that US political holdouts will support the Republicans’ tax reform bill pushed Wall Street’s key indexes to fresh record highs. At 0700 AEDT on Monday, the share price futures index was up 29 points, or 0.48 per cent, at 6,037.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is lower against the greenback with the US dollar index lifting 0.5 per cent the amid elevated sentiment. The local currency was trading at 76.54 US cents at 0700 AEDT on Monday, from 76.72 on Friday.

WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:

LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May says she will not be derailed from leaving the European Union, laying the groundwork for difficult meetings this week in which she will try to unite a divided cabinet behind her vision for post-Brexit Britain.

EDINBURGH — A poll has found that 51 per cent of Britons would now like to stay in the European Union while 41 per cent want to leave the bloc — a near reversal of last year’s referendum result.

LONDON — Bitcoin has blasted to another all-time high of over $US19,000 ($A24,838), up 8 per cent on opening, as concerns grow over the risks of investing in the highly volatile and speculative instrument.

BEIJING — A second prototype of China’s home-built C919 passenger jet has taken off for a test flight in Shanghai, state television reports, another step forward in the country’s ambitions to muscle in to the global jet market.

TORONTO — Police are investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide in the deaths of Canadian pharmaceuticals billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife, local newspapers are reporting.

BERLIN — Germany expects to welcome fewer than 200,000 new migrants this year, the country’s interior minister says.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

NAB — National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry believes Australian banks had no choice but to ask for a royal commission because funding costs would increase if overseas lenders perceived them as weak.

CBA NZ — Commonwealth Bank has appointed Vittoria Shortt to lead NZ subsidiary ASB.

CROWN — Shares in Crown Resorts have soared after the casino operator announced a string of asset sales that could deliver a windfall of nearly $700 million.

ORICA — Orica shares have climbed after the company flagged an improved outlook for fertiliser sales and new contracted pricing.

OPTUS — The consumer watchdog has launched federal court proceedings against Optus, alleging the telco pressured customers to move to the national broadband network sooner than required.

BEGA — Bega Cheese says it expects to have acceptances for 90 per cent of shares in takeover target Peanut Company of Australia by the time its offer for the company closes.