AAP

The local share market has finished 0.45 per cent lower, with every sector in the red except for mining.

Western Australia's Department of Communities has been tied to corruption with allegations involving an employee and a former contractor.

The Reserve Bank's decision to lift rather than pause interest rates was close but the risk of inflation sticking around nudged it towards another increase.

Consumers remain down in the dumps, with financial sentiment back to its lowest level since April 2020, but there is some optimism about the economy's future.

The local share market recovered from minor morning losses to finish in the green and at the highs of the day, up 0.1 per cent.

Bullsbrook residents who fought to prove their properties had lost value due to alleged contamination from a nearby military base are among a cohort due to receive a share of a multi-million-dollar payout.

Newcrest Mining has entered into a binding all-scrip takeover agreement with US-based Newmont Corporation, concluding months of dealmaking between the gold producers.

Nine industrial zones to "carpool" emissions and give gas a long-term role in the economy have been mapped by the industry with help from CSIRO scientists.

The energy and materials sectors are weighing down shares as the local market prepares for the release of wage and employment data.

US stocks closed in a slump on the back of news Disney was losing subscribers and another regional bank, PacWest, took a dive.

Better-than-expected US inflation figures has kept Australian shares basically flat, with growing concerns about the debt ceiling.

Premier and Treasurer Mark McGowan is expected to reveal a healthy surplus and spending to fight inflation in the WA budget.

Australian shares finished lower ahead of US inflation data announcements, with hopes the Federal Reserve will resist rate hikes in the coming months.

The federal budget has been broadly welcomed by the business community but some worry it doesn't go far enough to boost productivity and investment.

Jim Chalmers says his budget won't fan inflation and lead to more interest rate rises but some leading economic experts are not convinced.

Local shares have finished lower ahead of the federal budget but market analysts say it is typical for the May trading period.

Key crossbenchers say the government should go further with its changes to the Petroleum Rent Resource Tax to get better value for taxpayers.

Households struggling with the cost of living will get some support in the federal budget but the threat of inflation will keep handouts contained.

The local share market has bounced back from its third weekly decline, bolstered by gains in the energy, materials and financial sectors.

Westpac is raising its dividend 15 per cent to 70c per share as CEO Peter King says it has become a "simpler, stronger bank".

The local share market is standing up on its own despite concerns resurfacing over regional banking issues in the United States.

The RBA expects growth to ease by more than earlier predictions as cost of living pressures and higher interest rates weigh on disposable incomes.

The federal budget will fund a national authority to manage the job losses and opportunities in switching from coal-fired power to widespread renewable energy.

Australia's third-largest bank has delivered a strong performance for the six months to March but warned of a difficult six months ahead.

The local share market has managed to climb back from its morning losses induced by the overseas Federal Reserve rate hike overnight.

Shares in NAB were sold-off this morning after the bank reported a higher profit but failed to meet market expectations.

The local share market has finished 1.0 per cent lower, its second sharp selloff in a row following the Reserve Bank's surprise rate hike.

The government is allocating $1 billion toward developing quantum computing to put Australia at the forefront of the emerging technology.

Jim Chalmers says the high inflation environment is the main challenge facing the economy and his budget will reflect these price pressures.

Local shares collectively fell 0.9 per cent after the Reserve Bank surprised the market with another rate hike.

A multi-million-dollar upgrade of Perth's water infrastructure is part of a plan to increase the amount of high-density home development.

Young workers are set to receive about $6000 extra in their superannuation balance on retirement after changes to how their payments are made.