Gillian Bowen

And the Japanese yen lost 0.1% with one US dollar now buying 159.21 yen.

Okay, let's get a wrap of world markets.

The Dow Jones Index finished up 0.2%.

The S&P 500 Index was 0.3% higher, while the NASDAQ Index advanced 0.4%.

So, James, we've got the conflict on investors' minds, but there's been plenty of other market news as well.

Moving to the European markets, the continent-wide FTSE Euro First 300 index ended down 0.1%, while the UK FTSE 100 was 0.3% higher.

Europe was little changed on Thursday as markets weighed progress towards the potential resolution to the Middle East conflict, while investors were also assessing a fresh batch of corporate earnings as well.

Among sectors, the technology and energy sector

Sectors boosted, the index rising 1.5% and 0.7% respectively.

Software companies gained, with Germany's SAP adding 3.5%.

On the downside, financial shares weighed heavily on the benchmark index, dropping 1%.

Defence stocks slid 1.8%, with Safran and Rolls-Royce falling 3.4% and 2.4% respectively.

The travel and leisure sector are also under pressure, with Ryanair dropping 6.4%.

Germany's Lufthansa became the first major carrier to ground planes due to high jet fuel costs, while Britain's EasyJet said its bookings were lagging.

Last year's both were down 3.4% and 5% respectively.

Let's take a look at what's on the watch list for this week.

In Australia, ASX companies making dividend payments today include Mass Group, ARB, Lindsay Australia and QBE.

RBA Assistant Governor Sarah Hunt will also be speaking at the IMF and World Bank in the US, where she might shed some further light on Australia's economic outlook in the US.

Reporting season continues with earnings from State Street and Fifth Third Bancorp.

It's time for our one more thing before we go to wrap up the week.