Australia's unemployment rate eased to 5.5 percent in April, data showed Thursday, beating expectations by creating 50,100 jobs despite a slowdown in the mining-driven economy.

Twelve companies will offer a total of 615 openings at a job fair in Taipei on Friday, including several high-paying positions that promise up to NT$160,000 per month.

Display panel maker Innolux (群創) yesterday reported encouraging first-quarter results, recording net income of NT$1.684 billion, ending a streak of losses that has persisted for the past 10 consecutive quarters.

National Australia Bank (NAB) posted a 22.8-percent spike in first-half net profit Thursday on the back of higher revenue from personal and wholesale banking, a result that met expectations.

The European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) yesterday celebrated Europe Day in Taipei with the release of an animated film designed to enhance understanding of the European Union among local youth.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs said Thursday that it plans to host a second procurement meeting in cooperation with the European Union this year to capitalize on business opportunities amid Europe's economic recovery.

Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday praised New Taipei City over the highly anticipated Taipei Port expansion into a free economic demonstration zone, which is scheduled to open in July.

Taiwan is forecast to see stronger economic growth in the second half of this year as a result of a recovery in its electronics industry, a major economic driver, a South Korean economist said yesterday in Taipei.

As South Korea's low interest rate has contracted their profits, Korean banks are targeting rich people in Southeast Asia and China as new income sources.

Australia's central bank cut its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to a record low 2.75 percent Tuesday in an effort to boost economic growth as a mining boom cools and the strong Australian dollar erodes business profits.