Markets Live: Stocks rise on Greek hopes
Australian shares rise as surveys showing a lead in opinion polls for Greece's pro-bailout camps help calm eurozone turmoil fears and ease risk aversion.
1.03pm: A look around the region shows our market is today's star performer, with many others posting losses:
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12.56pm: The Australian dollar is trading at 98.50 US cents, its highest level in almost a week as hopes grow that Greece will elect a pro-bailout party on June 17 and stay in the eurozone.
CMC markets foreign exchange dealer Tim Waterer says the gains made by the pro-bailout parities gave the market a reason to be optimistic:
12.49pm: And unions are echoing the administrator, saying they are scrambling to secure work for about 2000 plumbers and electricians expected to lose their jobs after engineering company Hastie Group was placed in administration.
Communications Electrical Plumbing Union national secretary Peter Tighe said most of the employees whose positions were in jeopardy were contracted to construction projects still in progress around the country.
Union leaders are hoping workers will be able to continue in the current roles under different contracts.
The works got to be finished, Mr Tighe said. What we normally do is well go to the principal contractor and argue that our boys should stay on for the duration of the project."
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Markets Live: Stocks rise on Greek hopes