🇦🇺 Australia: market & economy news today

Australia stocks higher at close of trade; S&P/ASX 200 up 0.44%

Australia central banker sees signs of labour market easing

Australia’s Cleanaway agrees to $6.5 bln EQT buyout bid; shares surge

Australia’s Challenger gets takeover bid from unit of Japan’s Daiichi Life

Fuel giant Ampol more than doubles refining margins — as it happened

Wall Street's key indices closed lower as investors bailed out of AI stocks, but the ASX rose. Ampol lifts refining margins 125 per cent compared to a year earlier.

How artificial intelligence is helping the lobster industry

Artificial intelligence technology capable of recognising individual lobsters is being used in a bid to strengthen consumer trust — and even break into new markets.

Mimicking populists will not ease cost of living or boost productivity, Mathias Cormann warns

Former minister and OECD head urges Australia not to adopt migration caps, with research showing migrants boost employment Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s mainstream political parties are being warned not to adopt populist policies such as migration caps to address voters’…

Darwin accountant trades tax for cane toad taxidermy

There are 531 dead cane toads in Darwin resident Mithram Selvaratnam's freezer. The accountant who traded numbers for taxidermy will have some of them wearing Santa hats by Christmas.

'Insufficient' relief for businesses affected by Civic construction

A review of Canberra's night life has found the ACT government should consider stronger relief for businesses affected by construction work in the city and establish a dedicated Night-Time Economy Commissioner.

Coral overharvesting on Great Barrier Reef investigated by regulator

The investigation comes as the coral harvesting industry on the reef is facing increased pressure from environmentalists.

Major lender in Bathla development sells debts

Private credit firms are striking deals to recover their money following the $3.4 billion collapse of property giant Bathla Group, with one major lender selling most of its exposure to a Sydney apartment project.

EVs are holding value better than expected – and it has a lot to do with Australia’s cost of living

The appeal of electric vehicles is financial as much as environmental for many drivers Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here The electric vehicles were splattered after a concrete spray incident, but repairable.

Australia stocks higher at close of trade; S&P/ASX 200 up 1.00%

Reserve Bank governor paid $1.2 million as RBA workers fight real wage cuts

RBA governor Michele Bullock received total remuneration of $1.22 million in 2025-26.

Nationals say Liberals oppose EU trade deal, Liberals beg to differ

Despite Matt Canavan's assertion that both the Liberal and National parties oppose the EU free trade deal, Liberals say they have not agreed a position and some are inclined to support it.

'Investors freaking out' about Wall Street big tech as warning bell rings

The cost of insuring against a debt default by Wall Street's tech titans has hit record levels. Soaring debt and rising interest rates have investors fretting about a potential collapse.

ASX closes week higher — as it happened

Australian shares closed the week higher after investors, who are cautious about AI, heard from US Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. He told an IMF meeting in Bangkok that AI was a huge benefit to the US economy, although the pathway to job creation and wealth would be "very bumpy".

Australia alerta del efecto devastador de la guerra en O. Medio en reunión Finanzas de G20

Australia stocks lower at close of trade; S&P/ASX 200 down 0.09%

Expert says trust use to avoid tax 'bordering on a joke'

Small business advocates say it is a misconception that trusts are only used by wealthy families to minimise tax, but one expert says the current system is "bordering on a joke" and in urgent need of reform.

Victoria to become first state to make abortions free as Coalition matches Labor election promise

Exclusive: Out-of-pocket costs for abortion care to be covered regardless of who wins November election as Jess Wilson says Liberals and Nationals ‘will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue’ Victoria will become the first state in Australia to make access to abortion care free, no matter who wins the…

'Not a lot we can do': Yass council region faces 76pc rate hike

Independent consultants have found the council would need to generate an extra $8.3 million from operations each year by 2027-28 to maintain its financial and infrastructure position.

Australia loses 39,300 jobs unexpectedly, easing bets on another RBA rate hike

Australia employment slides 39,300 in September, jobless at 4.7%

Australian politics live: jobless rate unexpectedly holds at 4.7%; Plibersek warns One Nation support ‘winding back’ abortion access

Follow the day’s news live. Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Private health insurance changes ‘recalibrating precious taxpayer dollars’, says Wells The health minister, Mark Butler, yesterday promised to reintroduce a bill to reduce private health insurance rebates for over-65s, after it was…