AAP

Australian share market investors had their biggest day of buying in more than four weeks before the US Federal Reserve prepares to wind back economic stimulus.

Telstra Corporation has sealed a Department of Defence deal worth more than $1 billion which includes providing 5G mobile services.

A Reserve Bank meeting on Melbourne Cup day has left few winners on the share market as an interest rate hike moved closer.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the cash rate at 0.1 per cent after its monthly board meeting, as widely anticipated by economists.

Confirmation of Santos and Beach Energy's $220 million carbon capture and storage project in South Australia has been followed by the swift departure of Beach's chief executive, Matt Kay.

Investors showed no fear of the Reserve Bank possibly bringing forward a rate rise as they gave the market its biggest lift in more than two weeks.

Seven West Media is proposing to buy regional TV broadcaster Prime in a deal valued at $131.9 million.

Westpac has unveiled a $3.5 billion share buyback after posting a surge in annual earnings on the back of a strong home loans market and lower provisions.

The Reserve Bank is tipped to bring forward rate rises after opting not to defend soaring bond yields which decimated shares.

Casino operator Crown Resorts has paid $125 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by thousands of shareholders.

Investors lost most of their gains from the week as the ASX stalls on concerns rate hikes could come sooner than planned.

ANZ has posted a sharp lift in full-year profit despite underperformance in its home loans business, thanks to a robust lending market and reversal of some COVID-related provisions.

House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith will step down on November 22 to serve out the rest of the parliamentary term as a Liberal backbencher.

The final round of reforms to the financial sector following the banking royal commission have been introduced to federal parliament.

The federal government decided on the overseas purchase of a new navy ship to help Australia's Pacific neighbours, despite a commitment to build it onshore.

Higher inflation figures rocked investor confidence on the Australian share market as traders pondered the prospect of an earlier rate rise.

Australian inflation grew by 0.8 per cent in the September quarter, largely driven by the rising cost of new homes and fuel.

Crown Resorts shares rocketed after the company retained its Melbourne casino licence while investors barely nudged the Aussie market before Wednesday's inflation data.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed to making Australia carbon neutral by 2050 in a new plan that relies heavily on existing technologies.

Its behaviour was "illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative", but gaming group Crown will keep its Melbourne casino licence.

Shares on the ASX closed at their highest level in more than 26 days while this week's inflation data may help the Aussie dollar to its highest position since July.

The federal government is playing up its partnership with Telstra to buy a South Pacific mobile and broadband company as a sign of its commitment to the region.

Australia's share market had a third consecutive week of gains as investors look to inflation data and a debate on whether a rate rise may be brought forward.

International travel restarting in Australia's two most populous states has been dangled as an incentive for vaccination laggards to pick up the pace.

Western Australia will delay relaxing its border to Queensland after a Gold Coast man who tested positive to COVID-19 was active in the community.

Company leaders put a positive spin on tricky times but investors were not always persuaded on a busy day of annual meetings and quarterly updates.

Investors have pushed the Australian share market to a 30-day high and the Aussie dollar to 75 US cents as the September worries of stalling growth fade.

Flight Centre is counting on a rebound in demand for travel to help it achieve a return to monthly profitability within the current financial year.

Australia's tax commissioner is facing an investigation from a powerful parliamentary committee after refusing to hand over companies' wage subsidy details.

Western Australia's premier has joined with the mining sector in dismissing calls for stronger federal oversight of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Rising bond yields have helped flatten the Australian share market as the Reserve Bank continued its standoff with investors over when rates will go up.

Colonial First State has been ordered to pay a substantial penalty by the Federal Court after misleading nearly 13,000 of its members about their superannuation.