AAP

The ASX200 has closed at its highest level since the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March last year.

The International Monetary Fund's upgrade of the Australian economic outlook confirms the nation has outperformed all major advanced economies over the past year, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.

Josh Frydenberg has held discussions with the Reserve Bank of Australia and the prudential regulator over what is becoming a hot property market.

Scott Morrison has denied criticising the European Union despite blaming a lack of vaccine exports for Australia's slow immunisation rollout.

The Australian share market has closed with solid gains in its first trading session after the Easter holidays, with investor sentiment bolstered by overseas markets and news of a trans-Tasman "travel bubble".

Australia's new minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme will soon meet with the sector as the campaign against planned changes ramps up.

The Reserve Bank has left its key interest rates at a record low at its monthly board meeting, while warning it is monitoring developments in the heated housing market.

After 11 months in the planning, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the trans-Tasman bubble will open on April 19.

UPDATED: Just a week after appointing Malcolm Turnbull to head its climate change board the NSW government has sacked the former prime minister.

The Morrison government has cautioned against a major increase in Australia's minimum wage, citing concerns about job creation.

Builders on the ASX received an early Easter blessing in the form of a US infrastructure spending plan, and helped the market close higher.

Lawyers for Christian Porter argue the federal frontbencher was readily identifiable in a report outlining rape allegations against an unnamed cabinet minister.

The fate of AMP CEO Francesco De Ferrari has finally been revealed, a week after the wealth manager tried to hose down reports he was leaving.

Almost 289,000 jobs were available in February, the highest level in at least eight years, including a 45 per cent lift in Western Australia.

Brisbane’s three-day lockdown was lifted this morning after Queensland recorded just one new case of community transmission of COVID-19, but WA’s hard border with the state remains in place.

Investors have had a good day on the Australian share market and their best month since November's record gains.

Labor has pledged cheaper electric cars and community batteries to drive down power bills if Anthony Albanese becomes prime minister.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has stepped in as peacemaker between the states and some of his federal colleagues after they engaged in a stoush over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Greater Brisbane has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot for the purpose of commonwealth support as Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly warns travellers to stay up to date with border closures.

Australia's share market had a downbeat day as spikes in bond yields prompted investors to sell equities, while Brisbane's growing coronavirus outbreak hit Easter travel plans.

Some of Western Australia's most vulnerable people are flocking to receive their coronavirus jabs as the rollout begins in remote Aboriginal communities.

One of Australia's oldest energy providers, AGL, wants to split its business in two as it comes under increasing pressure to move to clean energy.

Manufacturing jobs will be at the heart of Labor's attempt to defeat Scott Morrison with a $15 billion plan designed to drive investment in the sector.

Payroll jobs were slightly higher than a year ago by mid-March as the economy continued to recover from last year's deep recession.

Shares closed a little lower on the Australian market as a coronavirus lockdown unfolded for Brisbane, and the refloating of a ship blocking the Suez Canal caused oil prices to fall.

Australia has hit the half a million milestone for COVID-19 vaccinations but is way short of the four million jabs the government predicted just a few months ago.

REA Group has proposed a $244 million purchase of the Mortgage Choice broking business.

A snap lockdown in Brisbane days out from the Easter weekend threatens to spark nationwide chaos.

Australia's resources and energy exports are forecast to reach a record $296 billion in 2020/21, despite the global economic downturn driven by COVID-19.

Investors have had their best week on the ASX in the past seven, while the surging buy now, pay later sector may be the best indicator of any effect on shares from the end of the JobKeeper wage subsidy.

AMP denies media reports that chief executive Francesco De Ferrari has resigned, but says he and the board are discussing the wealth manager's future leadership.

TPG Telecom chairman David Teoh has resigned after many years developing the major force in the Australian telecommunications industry, and shares fell to a record low.