AAP

Inflation cooled to 4.9 per cent over the 12 months to October, down from the 5.6 per cent growth recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in September.

The Australian share market finished up 0.4 per cent, while the local currency hit its highest level against the greenback in four months.

The Reserve Bank is set to scrutinise the latest retail trade figures as it continues its battle to wrestle inflation back to its target rate.

The ASX200 has fallen almost 0.8 per cent, with every sector except technology losing ground as China issued a warning on iron ore pricing.

US stocks have closed mixed as investors digested data pointing to possible slowing economic conditions.

The local share market closed the day 0.2 per cent higher but finished the week down 0.1 per cent.

Australian banking customers will be better protected from scammers under a suite of changes introduced by the industry.

Australians are tipped to spend more than $6 billion on Black Friday bargains, providing a boost to retailers grappling with a slow year of sales.

The local share market closed down 0.6 per cent to hit its lowest level in a week following a speech by RBA governor Michelle Bullock.

New business investment beat Treasury's budget forecasts though is expected to simmer down as the economy slows.

The ASX200 finished 0.1 per cent lower, in the bourse's fourth straight session of quiet trading during a holiday week in the United States.

The Reserve Bank fired off an interest rate hike last month to take out insurance against lingering inflation risks, minutes from a board meeting confirm.

The local share market finished 0.3 per cent higher, even as the Reserve Bank minutes opened the door for a potential December rate hike.

Australia's biggest emitter AGL has avoided a second strike on remuneration after accelerating plans to shut coal power plants and build more renewable assets.

The ASX200 has finished 0.1 per cent higher while oil prices have rebounded after hitting a four-month low.

Australia's economic engine room is facing a moment of truth as rival mining nations go all out to win the clean energy minerals race, BHP warns.

The local share market dropped 0.1 per cent for the day, but finished the week up 1.1 per cent after strong gains on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Senate inquiry into a 12-hour Optus outage that affected millions of Australians has revealed hundreds of triple-zero calls were unable to go through.

The local share market started higher but finished 0.7 per cent lower after a strong labour market report raised fears of more rate hikes next year.

Anthony Albanese has arrived in the US for the APEC summit which will focus on trade and climate but a US-China meeting is attracting the most attention.

The local share market rose 1.4 per cent to an eight-week high after US inflation data suggested the rate-hiking cycle in the world's largest economy is over.

Wages grew 1.3 per cent in the September quarter, the biggest quarterly jump in the 26-year history of the official wage price index survey.

Official data will reveal how quickly pay packets expanded over the last quarter as minimum and award wage increases kicked in.

The ASX200 rose 0.8 per cent to climb back above the 7,000 level amid strong gains by the energy and mining sectors.

The WA government has joined other states in strongly criticising a new federal policy that would see the states pay at least half the bill for new infrastructure projects.

Australia's biggest bank says there was just a modest increase in late payments in the September quarter, despite the impact of higher interest rates.

The local share market has finished down 0.4 per cent, with every sector in the red except for utilities.

The confidential information of Australians could be at risk after a survey revealed many organisations had limited or no capability to adequately protect data.

The local share market finished down 0.6 per cent after Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said more interest rate hikes might be needed.

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 have ended their longest winning streaks in two years after a disappointing bond auction and the Fed chair's warning about rates.

The ASX200 closed up 0.3 per cent and finished above 7,000 for the first time since mid-October.

Short-term accommodation owners in Western Australia will be offered a $10,000 incentive to rent their properties to long-term tenants to boost housing supply.