Governor Glenn Stevens put it down to an improvement in local business borrowing, house values and share prices. He indicates rates may remain steady for some time. But some analysts are still predicting another consumer-boosting cut in time for Christmas.

 

They'll whomever, Whoever wins the US presidential election has the national problem of unemployment facing them. September figures show the number of job vacancies dropped by 100,000 to its, the fewest in five months. 

 

More than 12 million Americans are unemployed. On average, three people competing for each job vacancy. In a healthy economy, the ratio is roughly two to one. 

 

Let's take a look at the markets now.

 

The Dow's up 126 points. The Nasdaq climbed 11. The S&P 500 also gained 11. And in London overnight, the FTSE is ,was up 46 points.

 

To commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 89 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is trading at 114 US dollars a barrel. And gold is worth 1716 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 104 US cents, 81 Euro cents and 65 pence sterling.