AAP

Westpac has posted an annual profit of $5 billion-plus and says while interest rate rises will bite, many customers remain ahead on their mortgage repayments.

The local share market has climbed in afternoon trading to finish Friday up 0.5 per cent, with energy and mining sectors particularly strong.

CEO Alan Joyce has told shareholders at its annual general meeting the airline is returning to its pre-COVID levels of service.

State and territory authorities are bracing for an uptick in COVID-19 infections as new variants of the virus spread across Australia.

The local share market has fallen sharply after the chairman of America's powerful central bank declared rate hikes had "still some ways to go".

The federal opposition is calling on the government to allow extensive debate on controversial workplace law changes.

Woolworths says that inflation accelerated during the September quarter, with food prices rising an average of 7.3 per cent.

The ASX200 has finished slightly higher after crossing above and below the key 7000 level for most of the day.

Australian mining expertise and minerals are in demand in a world hungry for energy as executives gather for their biggest conference since the pandemic.

Australian shares have climbed 1.65 per cent, with all sectors gaining ground after the RBA announced a rate increase that was in line with expectations.

Power authorities in Western Australia will start sending text alerts to customers this summer if power cuts are possible.

The ASX has finished Monday up 1.2 per cent to cap off its second-best month of the year, with a busy week of central bank hikes to come.

A communications platform used by the Department of Defence has been hit by a ransomware attack.

Anthony Albanese is defending his decision to pump money into long-term investments rather than handouts for struggling families.

The local share market has finished down 0.9 per cent, with big losses for the mining giants after government statistics showed a drop in iron ore exports.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says he's having productive discussions with industry groups about new worker laws.

The Australian sharemarket has posted it fourth consecutive day of gains, equalling a streak last set in mid-September.

ANZ has beaten earnings expectations across the board, but the results don't appear to have been strong enough to impress the market.

New laws will give workers more power to request flexible working hours while introducing controversial changes to open the way to widespread multi-employer bargaining.

The local share market has managed to stay in positive territory - just - after third-quarter inflation came in higher than expected.

Australians are facing a tough couple of years after the Albanese government's first budget warned power bills will rise and real wages will fall.

The Australian share market has risen for a second day, closing up 0.28 per cent despite losses among miners and oil producers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will unveil a plan in Tuesday night's budget to build 1 million new homes by bringing together governments and other partners.

The largest survey of airborne electromagnetic data has been collected across Western Australia to help unlock its resource potential and aid in the hunt for rare earth materials.

Australian shares have enjoyed broad gains following indications the US Federal Reserve might slow the pace of its tightening cycle later this year.

The weakening Australian dollar will make imports more expensive but the RBA says its effects will be relatively minor.

The local share market has finished down 0.8 per cent for the day and 1.2 per cent for the week, its seventh losing week out of the past nine.

The Australian share market has been unable to put together a three-day winning streak, with most sectors sinking lower as sentiment soured.

Medibank's hackers are threatening to release stolen personal health information, and Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil says that's a "dog act".

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley has been appointed as the newest member of the Australian War Memorial Council.

The number of Western Australians in employment fell in September, while the national jobless rate held steady at 3.5 per cent.

The Australian share market has finished higher, however the gains were muted compared to the past three days of sharp volatility.