AAP

The local market closed up 1.1 per cent on the day, and has been up five of the past six sessions.

Australians in isolation due to COVID-19 will be able to vote in the federal election following last-minute changes to electoral rules.

The Australian stock market has fallen sharply, with major retailers hitting multi-year lows on fears of rising fuel and freight costs.

Retailers enjoyed a buoyant sales period during April compared to a year earlier, but ballooning inflation is eating into business operations.

The major miners have led the ASX higher, with iron ore prices rising as China reopens.

New data suggests the sharp rise in inflation and an expected rapid rise in interest rates will take the edge off Australia's economic expansion.

The local share market has posted its third consecutive winning session, although the gains were modest.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index has fallen for a fourth straight week to its lowest level since mid-August 2020.

The ASX has finished in the green, with Brambles posting double-digit gains after the pallet giant confirmed it had been approached about a buyout.

The West Australian government will establish a marine park in Exmouth Gulf in the state's northwest.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the handling of the AUKUS negotiations after reports he misled the US on the level of bipartisanship.

Australian shares have clawed back Thursday's losses with across the board gains, closing out a volatile week with the local bourse's best single-day performance in 15 weeks.

A Chinese spyship has been tracked off the coast of Western Australia, Defence Minister Peter Dutton has revealed.

Australian technology stocks have suffered their worst single-day losses since early in the pandemic, while the local bourse hit a fresh 14-week low after declining for a fourth day in five sessions.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia third quarter cash profit has remained steady at $2.4 billion as growth in home and business lending was offset by the impact of ongoing margin pressure.

The Australian share market has finished in the green for the first time since last Thursday, rising slightly higher ahead of key US inflation data due to be released overnight.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese effectively put a figure on Labor's position, supporting a wage increase of 5.1 per cent, in line with the highest inflation spike in two decades.

The local bourse has suffered its third losing session in a row, but the damage ended up being not nearly as severe as it had been in early trading.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has announced his decision to resign, almost immediately after he delivered the territory's budget.

DoorDash and the Transport Workers' Union have signed an agreement that sets out how Australia can ensure safety and fairness for contract or so-called gig workers.

The local bourse has sunk to a nearly two-month low, as last week's rollercoaster ride shows no signs of abating.

Westpac has posted a 12 per cent drop in first half cash earnings to $3.1 billion, on the back of competitive pressures in the home loan market and increased provisions for bad debts.

Anthony Albanese has lashed out at the prime minister's leaders' debate performance as nothing but smirk and smears, as pre-poll voting gets under way across the country.

The ASX dropped 2.2 per cent to finish the week down 3.1 per cent, with losses across the board in what an analyst described as "complete carnage".

The Western Australian government will consider setting a target for the supply of electricity from renewable hydrogen.

Macquarie Group's full-year profit has surged 56 per cent to $4.71 billion, but the group will maintain a conservative approach in FY22.

The Australian Stock Exchange has finished broadly higher after the US Federal Reserve said aggressive interest rate hikes weren't under active consideration.

Nearly two years on since the destruction at Juukan Gorge, Rio boss Jakob Stausholm has told shareholders that the miner is focused on resetting relationships.

Alliance Aviation Services and Qantas have agreed for the latter to fully take over the leading contract and charter flights operator.

National Australia Bank's first-half cash profit has risen 4.1 per cent and the lender has also lifted its interim dividend to 73 cents a share.

The Australian stock exchange has edged lower ahead of a key Federal Reserve meeting, where the US central bank is widely expected to raise interest rates for the second time since 2018.

The nation's third-largest bank, ANZ, has reported a lift in first-half profit after tightly managing costs and improving home loan processing times.