AAP

The local share market finished the day up 0.2 per cent after the Reserve Bank left most of its quarterly economic forecasts unchanged from May.

The near-term outlook for growth is looking more downbeat than the Reserve Bank expected earlier, likely to trough at about one per cent at the end of 2023.

The competition regulator has blocked ANZ's acquisition of Suncorp's banking arm in what was a $4.9 billion transaction that would have shaken up the banking industry.

Grants to help volunteers buy equipment or reimburse training costs aim to boost the dropping number of Aussies who are serving their communities.

Retail trade in volume terms fell for the third quarter in a row, the first time this has occurred since the global financial crisis.

The local share market has closed down 0.6 per cent following a big sell-off on Wall Street, with one analyst calling the correction perhaps overdue.

Renewable energy can spark an industrial turnaround in Australia and help to solve the global climate crisis, a national manufacturing summit will be told.

The local share market has suffered its worst loss in four weeks, dropping 1.3 per cent after Fitch Ratings downgraded the United States' credit rating.

US stocks have closed mostly lower as investors digested mixed earnings from pharmaceutical companies.

The local share market finished up 0.5 per cent after the Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged at 4.1 per cent for a second consecutive month.

Rare earths from Western Australia will be processed in Texas for defence and industrial needs under an updated contract with the United States government.

The local share market finished the day up 0.1 per cent, finishing July with its best gains since January.

Falling demand in North Asia for elements used in industrial magnets, electric cars and defence technology have taken the shine off a production record for Lynas Rare Earths.

US stocks ended the week higher as investor confidence that inflation is easing continued to grow.

More and more Australians are being forced to cancel or postpone holiday plans as cost of living pressures bite.

The local share market has fallen 0.7 per cent as Japan's central bank loosened its attempt to control bond yields, but has gained 1.2 per cent for the week.

Two senior American officials have arrived in Australia for the AUSMIN talks and will be hosted by the prime minister to discuss security and foreign affairs.

The local market has risen 0.73 per cent after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said it was possible the central bank might keep rates on pause in September.

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.