AAP

Net profits after tax have halved to $63 million for Kerry Stokes' media conglomerate, while revenue has dropped five per cent.

The Australian share market has finished down 0.4 per cent in large part because of a failed heart attack drug that CSL spent nearly $1 billion developing.

Employers who say giving workers the right to switch off after hours will diminish flexible work arrangements are "scaremongering", a union boss says.

The local market finished marginally higher for the day but lost 0.7 per cent over the week, after falling on Monday and Tuesday.

The tax office has accused consulting giant PwC of not disclosing key details of a report into the conduct of its partners in a tax advice scandal.

The local share market has finished up 0.3 per cent, after better-than-expected earnings from AGL, Transurban, Mirvac, News Corp and Cochlear.

A stranded live export ship is expected to return to port and could offload thousands of livestock after an application to export them to Israel was rejected.

The local bourse finished up 0.5 per cent, with gains for Woodside after it called off merger talks with Santos and Cettire soaring on strong earnings.

National Australia Bank has announced that Andrew Irvine will replace Ross McEwan as its chief executive, effective in April.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has not ruled out more interest rate hikes but economic forecasters are reasonably confident the next move will be down.

The local share market finished down 0.6 per cent after RBA governor Michele Bullock indicated the central bank wouldn't act quickly to cut rates.

It remains unclear what will happen to sheep and cattle on the MV Bahijah off Perth after authorities rejected a bid to send the livestock to Israel.

The local share market closed down 1.0 per cent after the chairman of the US Federal Reserve reiterated that the central bank would move slowly on rate cuts.

With most Australians expected to win out from the government's amended tax cuts, the treasurer has warned other parties not to block the policy in parliament.

The domestic bourse has hit a fresh all-time high after Amazon, Meta, and Apple all exceeded earnings expectations, raising investor risk appetite.

As borrowers wait to see what the central bank does next week, the federal opposition has castigated three Labor premiers for publicly hoping for a rate cut.

The Australian share market has dropped 1.2 per cent after Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell said a March rate cut was unlikely.

The merger of Australian Vanadium and Technology Metals creates the leading ASX-listed developer of the ore used in non-flammable, long-term batteries.

The ASX200 has closed at a new record high, boosted by cooler-than-expected inflation data that raises the chances of quicker rate hikes.

Half of the nation's high-income earners back Labor's proposed tax changes as analysis shows most of the benefits will still flow to the rich.

For a second time this month, the local share market came close to eclipsing its record high set back in mid-2021 but most of its gains faded in the afternoon.

The WA government has relaxed planning laws for granny flats in a bid to bolster housing supply.

Vacuum cleaner retailer Godfreys Group has entered voluntary administration, impacting about 15 stores across the Perth metropolitan area.

Consumers are shifting their spending habits ahead of Christmas to lean into discounting over the cyber weekend sale period.

The local share market rose 0.3 per cent to a nearly four-week peak and closed just 54 points away from its all-time high.

Anthony Albanese has challenged the crossbench to back in changes to stage three tax cuts, ahead of a regional sales pitch of the proposed reforms.

The Australian share market has climbed half a per cent as surging mining companies helped the index to its fifth successive day of gains.

The local share market has finished flat after resurgent mining stocks cancelled widespread losses in other sectors.

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has backed the supermarket's choice not to stock Australia Day merchandise as staff report more and more abuse.

The local bourse has climbed for its third consecutive session to finish half a per cent higher after more gains on Wall Street overnight.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has announced his resignation from politics after 16 years in parliament, to take up roles in the private and global advisory sectors.

Anthony Albanese has promised middle Australia will be the focus of cost of living support, as speculation mounts on changes to stage three tax cuts.