AAP

Draft laws for mandatory reporting of climate-related risks have been released by Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

The local bourse has finished up 0.5 per cent, with retailers such as JB-Hi Fi and Accent Group doing well amid signs of an uptick in consumer spending.

A plan to provide support and more sustainable job opportunities for Australians with disabilities and high support needs will be released by the government.

The Australian bourse gave up most of the previous day's gains, with the mining sector dropping 2.1 per cent, its worst day in nearly three months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 157.85 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 37,525.16. The S&P 500 has lost 7.04 points, or 0.15 per cent.

The local share market finished up 0.9 per cent, with every sector in the green except for energy as risk appetite returned.

The ASX200 has fallen another 0.5 per cent and closed at its lowest level since December 18 in its fourth day of losses.

Controversial land clearing at Alcoa's mine sites is likely to feed WA's ailing hardwood timber industry with logs following a ban on felling native forests.

The local share market finished the day down 0.1 per cent and the week down 1.3 per cent, snapping five straight weeks of gains.

Soldiers from overseas could join Australia's defence forces under an option being considered to grow the military amid issues with recruitment and retention.

The local share market has slipped again as traders digested Federal Reserve minutes and more clashes in the Middle East.

The local share market was down 0.3 per cent at noon as traders digest Federal Reserve minutes and more Middle East clashes.

The rising cost of housing, groceries and other goods may help explain the vast gap between normal earnings and how much it would take to feel wealthy.

After its near-record start to 2024, the local share market has finished down 1.4 per cent, its worst one-day drop since July, with losses across every sector.

The prime minister wants four-year fixed terms for federal parliament, but admits the limits are unlikely to change soon.

Wall Street has finished lower after the first day of trading in 2024 as a move higher in Treasury yields triggered declines among big tech names.

The ASX200 came within a tenth of a point of its all-time record set August 13, 2021 this morning, before closing just five points under it.

Western Australia's ban on the commercial logging of native forests could protect two million hectares of trees for future generations.

The local share market has finished flat for the day but rose 0.8 per cent for the week, notching a four-week winning streak and its longest since early 2023.

The local share market dropped 0.5 per cent, closing lower for just the second time out of the past 10 sessions.

Claims by power companies their profit margins are under threat from price caps have been played down by the federal energy minister.

Australian shares have continued their year-end rally with the ASX200 posting a 0.6 per cent gain and setting a new ten-month high.

Arcadium will be the world's third-biggest lithium producer, a combination of Brisbane-headquartered Allkem and Philadelphia-based Livent.

Facebook parent company Meta has pleaded not guilty to charges brought by billionaire Andrew Forrest over an alleged cryptocurrency clickbait advertising scam.

The consumer watchdog has poured cold water on merger reform models proposed by Treasury and says its compulsory notification model strikes the right balance.

The local bourse has closed up 0.8 per cent to finish at its highest level since early February, in what one analyst called a textbook Santa rally.

The end of the year has brought a ripple of optimism among consumers even as financial pressures stick around.

The local share market has finished 0.2 per cent lower after a Federal Reserve official pushed back on the idea of rate cuts in early 2024.

Global vehicle manufacturing, including China's need for raw materials for electric cars exported to the world, are driving iron ore and aluminium exports.

The local share market finished Friday up 0.9 per cent to gain 3.4 per cent for the week after the Fed's dovish pivot.

Australia's energy transition is urgent and faces significant risks if red tape, community uncertainty and supply chain issues are not fixed, officials warn.

The ASX200 has closed up 1.65 per cent to hit a four-month high, while the Aussie dollar climbed to more than 67 US cents on a mixed domestic jobs report.