Checking commodity prices: West Texas Crude is trading at 97 US dollars and 46 cents a barrel; Tapis crude is at 125 US dollars and 94 cents a barrel; and gold this morning is at 1,614 US dollars and 50 cents an ounce. 

 

The Australian dollar is buying one dollar and nine US cents, 76 euro cents and 67 pence sterling. 

 

Now as just mentioned, the US House of Representatives has now postponed that crucial vote on a bill to increase the country’s debt ceiling. Earlier, the speaker John Boehner made a final appeal for both parties to work together. 

 

"Today, the House will take action, again, on a solution that to end this debt limit crisis. We’ll take action again, just like we did on our budget, on solutions to the problems that are facing our nation. After today, the House will have sent to the Senate not one, but two different bills that will rein in spending, increase the debt ceiling and bring an end to this crisis. When the House takes action today, the United States Senate will have no more excuses for inaction."