AAP

A string of mergers and acquisitions involving major players on the Australian market proved talking points at the start of the trading week.

Mining giant BHP has sold its stake in a metallurgical coal joint venture in Queensland for more than $1.6 billion.

Australia has been labelled "a great disappointment to the rest of the world" by the United Kingdom's climate advisor for clinging to coal-fired power.

Australia's biggest and busiest airport has accepted a $23.6 billion takeover bid from a consortium of infrastructure investors.

Australian shares had their best week in the past four as investors proved comfortable with central banks' slight changes to pandemic stimulus.

Qantas Airways says it is seeing a surge in travel demand and confidence as local and international borders reopen.

Investors have held their nerve as central banks wind back pandemic stimulus, except for some who fretted over Domino's Pizza's post-lockdown trade.

Brewing giant Lion will go ahead with its purchase of Stone & Wood owner Fermentum after the competition watchdog found many more craft brewers will remain.

A report launched as part of a campaign by Australia's peak disability services sector body has assumed a multiplier of 2.25 for the $23 billion spent annually through the NDIS.

Australian share market investors had their biggest day of buying in more than four weeks before the US Federal Reserve prepares to wind back economic stimulus.

Telstra Corporation has sealed a Department of Defence deal worth more than $1 billion which includes providing 5G mobile services.

A Reserve Bank meeting on Melbourne Cup day has left few winners on the share market as an interest rate hike moved closer.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the cash rate at 0.1 per cent after its monthly board meeting, as widely anticipated by economists.

Confirmation of Santos and Beach Energy's $220 million carbon capture and storage project in South Australia has been followed by the swift departure of Beach's chief executive, Matt Kay.

Investors showed no fear of the Reserve Bank possibly bringing forward a rate rise as they gave the market its biggest lift in more than two weeks.

Seven West Media is proposing to buy regional TV broadcaster Prime in a deal valued at $131.9 million.

Westpac has unveiled a $3.5 billion share buyback after posting a surge in annual earnings on the back of a strong home loans market and lower provisions.

The Reserve Bank is tipped to bring forward rate rises after opting not to defend soaring bond yields which decimated shares.

Casino operator Crown Resorts has paid $125 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by thousands of shareholders.

Investors lost most of their gains from the week as the ASX stalls on concerns rate hikes could come sooner than planned.

ANZ has posted a sharp lift in full-year profit despite underperformance in its home loans business, thanks to a robust lending market and reversal of some COVID-related provisions.

House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith will step down on November 22 to serve out the rest of the parliamentary term as a Liberal backbencher.

The final round of reforms to the financial sector following the banking royal commission have been introduced to federal parliament.

The federal government decided on the overseas purchase of a new navy ship to help Australia's Pacific neighbours, despite a commitment to build it onshore.

Higher inflation figures rocked investor confidence on the Australian share market as traders pondered the prospect of an earlier rate rise.

Australian inflation grew by 0.8 per cent in the September quarter, largely driven by the rising cost of new homes and fuel.

Crown Resorts shares rocketed after the company retained its Melbourne casino licence while investors barely nudged the Aussie market before Wednesday's inflation data.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed to making Australia carbon neutral by 2050 in a new plan that relies heavily on existing technologies.

Its behaviour was "illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative", but gaming group Crown will keep its Melbourne casino licence.

Shares on the ASX closed at their highest level in more than 26 days while this week's inflation data may help the Aussie dollar to its highest position since July.

The federal government is playing up its partnership with Telstra to buy a South Pacific mobile and broadband company as a sign of its commitment to the region.

Australia's share market had a third consecutive week of gains as investors look to inflation data and a debate on whether a rate rise may be brought forward.