AAP

Lithium major Allkem is eyeing a tight market for battery minerals as it posts a significant improvement in the grade of ore recovered in Western Australia.

Australian shares have climbed as traders bet a smaller-than-expected rise in consumer prices would keep rates on hold.

US stocks have closed higher ahead of earnings reports from Alphabet and Microsoft and also a rate decision from the country's central bank.

The local share market has finished up 0.5 per cent, with the mining sector rising 2.7 per cent in its best single-day performance since March 2.

Newcrest Mining missed its copper production guidance and faced higher production costs in the June quarter, a result one analyst calls "weak."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has led Wall Street higher and notched its longest winning streak in six years as investors bet on sectors beyond technology in a week filled with earnings reports and a Federal Reserve meeting.

The local share market has finished down 0.1 per cent ahead of crucial domestic inflation and retail sales readouts and a likely US rate hike.

Giving casual workers the right to become permanent employees will not affect business profits, the employment minister says, as the federal government seeks to shake up industrial relations laws.&

Traders have taken something off the table, sending the local bourse lower on Friday but up for the week ahead of key events next week.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the latest jobs figures as a "good surprise" despite fears low unemployment could fuel further interest rate hikes.

Mining giant BHP has warned of cost pressures and uncertain international economic conditions in the year ahead.

The local bourse lost steam to close essentially unchanged after better-than-expected employment data increased the odds of another rate hike.

The official labour data has proved resilient but is expected to start responding to worsening domestic economic conditions later in the year.

The ASX rose 0.55 per cent after weak US retail sales data raised hopes that the Fed's expected rate hike in July might be its last.

Tools like ChatGPT could add tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy by swallowing up repetitive manual tasks and making workers much more productive.

The local share market has finished down 0.2 per cent after Reserve Bank minutes indicated the central bank might hike rates in August.

As a parliamentary inquiry examines conflicts of interest in the consulting industry, Greens senator Barbara Pocock says firms are still not being honest.

The local share market has finished down ever so slightly as traders digested weaker-than-expected second-quarter gross domestic product figures from China.

Large consultancy firms should be broken up to reduce conflicts of interest, the former head of the consumer watchdog has told an inquiry.

The ASX rose 0.8 per cent to end its best week since November after another dove bearing soft US inflation data signalled the end of rate rises is nigh.

Philip Lowe will leave his post as head of the Reserve Bank, with Michele Bullock the first woman picked to lead Australia's central bank.

The local share market closed 1.6 per cent higher after weak US inflation figures raised hopes the Federal Reserve could be nearing the end of its rate cycle.

BHP will seek to overturn a requirement for workers to be asked if they want to work public holidays before they are rostered on.

The local share market has finished 0.4 per cent higher after a positive lead from the US, with rising commodity prices benefiting energy and materials sectors.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has laid out a major shake-up of the central bank in the wake of a wide-ranging review into the institution.

The Australian government remains hopeful of striking a deal with the European Union on free trade, as the latest talks stall.

The local share market has finished 1.5 per cent higher after sliding bond yields and new Chinese economic stimulus sent investors flocking back to equity land.

War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith is appealing the loss of his defamation lawsuits after a judge found reports he committed war crimes were substantially true.

Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia's entry into a German-led "climate club", which some groups say will push the nation to do more on emissions cuts.

The local share market changed gears to finish the day 0.54 per cent lower after unexpectedly weak Chinese inflation data rattled investors.

US stocks have closed lower as investors digested data indicating the country's job growth slowed more than expected in June.

The local bourse plunged 1.69 per cent lower as rising bond yields led to broad sell-offs across the entire market.