AAP

Apprentices will get a hip-pocket boost as the prime minister prepares for an election, but some question whether this will tackle workforce shortages.

The benchmark S&P 500 rose to a record closing high overnight as investors assess a mixed bag of corporate earnings and digest comments from President Donald Trump, including a call for cuts in interest rates and oil prices.

Taxpayers will fork out a $50 million debt lifeline to Rex, with the federal government stepping in for a second bid to sell the embattled airline.

The ASX200 has snapped its three-day winning streak with a 0.6 per cent drop, while the Australian dollar was close to a one-month high.

Wall Street's indexes rose overnight with the benchmark S&P 500 hitting a record high during the session.

Optimism about the Trump presidency's implications for markets and the economy has driven Australian shares to further gains as the ASX200 rises 0.4 per cent.

The ASX200 rose 0.7 per cent to finish at a six-week high, while the Aussie dollar climbed to its highest level in two weeks against the greenback.

Australia and the US maintain a strong economic relationship, the foreign minister says, as Donald Trump retakes office as president and spikes concerns about trade tariffs.

The ASX200 has risen on the back of strong international sentiment as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, with gains for major miners and banks.

US stocks rallied on Friday to close out a strong week on optimism over the health of the country's economy and path of interest rates.

The ASX200 index has finished Friday down 0.2 per cent, but has risen by a similar amount for the week.

Mining heavyweights Rio Tinto and Glencore reportedly held talks in 2024 about a possible merge, but it is unclear whether the talks are still live.

US stocks dipped overnight as a jump in the prior session cooled.

The ASX200 index has risen 1.4 per cent, with every sector gaining ground after US inflation came in cooler than expected.

With political stalwart Bill Shorten set to step away from parliament in the coming days, WA MP Anne Aly has been named junior NDIS minister alongside Amanda Rishworth.

The ASX200 index slipped 0.2 per cent before latest US inflation figures are released and may curb expectations of interest rate cuts there.

The prime minister is blitzing Tasmania as he doubles down on the election contest being a choice on Australia's future.

The ASX200 index finished up almost 0.5 per cent, with the heavyweight mining sector climbing the most on a jump in Chinese demand.

The Nasdaq fell overnight, while the benchmark S&P 500 bounced off a two-month low and eked out a slight gain.

The ASX200 fell 1.2 per cent and the dollar hit a nearly five-year low after a strong US jobs report lowered expectations for quick rate cuts.

Peter Dutton has made a personal pitch to voters and promised to rein in government spending at the coalition's first campaign rally ahead of the federal election.

The ASX200 fell on Friday but finished the week 0.5 per cent higher, recovering from a slight fall during the previous five days of trading.

Fears of a gas supply shortfall have been tempered for now, with the consumer watchdog projecting a surplus for Australia's east coast.

The ASX200 index has managed to recoup some of its losses and finish on the highs of the day, down just a quarter of a percentage point.

Little changed for US stocks overnight, in a session where they struggled for a clear direction.

The ASX200 hit a four-week high after a report of cooling inflation raised hopes for Australia's first interest rate cut in four years.

Australians are likely to see more false content and abuse on their Facebook, Instagram and Threads feeds when Meta ditches fact-checking problematic posts.

There is a lot at stake at the looming federal election, and the prime minister knows it.

The ASX200 has risen 0.3 per cent as the Australian dollar climbed to its highest level since December 19.

Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister revealed his plans to step down.

The Australian dollar has hit a one-week high but could be at risk of further decline depending on an upcoming inflation readout.

US stocks rebounded last week as investors near the end of a holiday-shortened period that also rang in a new year.