AAP

Woolworths has pitched an $872 million takeover offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, pitting the retail giant against Wesfarmers.

A second-half rally on the Australian share market has almost overcome jitters about the prospect of earlier tapering of stimulus in the US and the latest coronavirus variant.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison used Tuesday's national cabinet to urge state and territory leaders to stick to their reopening plans, despite Omicron raising anxieties about the virus.

A late slide on the ASX has muted an Omicron recovery while more nations including Australia paused overseas arrivals due to the latest coronavirus strain.

Federal parliament has been asked to acknowledge publicly the harm caused by bullying and sexual misconduct at the apex of Australian politics.

The corporate regulator has taken the unprecedented step of launching multiple legal actions at once against one of Australia's big four banks.

The Morrison government has delayed the reopening of the Australian border to skilled workers, international students and other visa holders as it gathers more information on the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Shares on the ASX dipped due to concerns over the coronavirus Omicron variant, as the world waits to learn more about the threat.

Western Australia's premier says it's too early to tell whether the state's reopening will be delayed and has warned mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations are here to stay.

Australian company profits rose four per cent in the September quarter despite the nation being in the thick of a series of COVID-19 restrictions, which saw half the population in lockdown.

Australian shares have recorded their biggest slide in nearly two months amid rising concerns that a new coronavirus variant will affect global reopening prospects.

Retail spending rose 4.9 per cent in October as COVID-19 restrictions eased across the country however WA only reported a 0.2 per cent increase in sales.

Investors have cautiously advanced the ASX after Korea became the second nation in two days to try and ward off inflation by raising rates.

Payroll jobs continue to recover from the impact of the most recent COVID-19 lockdowns, rising in the second half of October.

Climate activists are continuing to block access to Woodside's Burrup Hub in Western Australia in a protest that has frustrated the company and the workers' union.

Energy shares provided spark and New Zealand raised rates, but there was little to make ASX investors move the market on Wednesday.

Travel provider Webjet has reduced its first-half losses as people resume travelling again in the pandemic.

Fortescue Metals shares surged almost 10 per cent as ASX investors bought iron ore miners on the prospect of stimulus for a slowing Chinese economy.

Australia's involvement in the controversial AUKUS security pact will be put under the spotlight by a parliamentary committee.

Investors sent the Australian share market lower to start the week following concerns more coronavirus lockdowns in Europe could damage global growth.

Labor wants to change employment laws to ensure casual workers taken on through labour-hire companies have the same entitlements as their permanent colleagues.

Western Australian bureaucrat Paul Whyte has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after stealing more than $27 million in public funds.

ASX investors have recovered some losses from the week as inflationary pressures stay top of mind in Australia and abroad.

US investment giant Blackstone has launched another bid to buy Crown Resorts.

Western Australia's "insufficient" new Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation reinforces the need for greater federal oversight, investors say.

Improving appetite for gold and mining shares in response to inflation and Chinese activity has helped the ASX close higher.

Commonwealth Bank shares plunged and the Australian market had its steepest loss for November for a second consecutive day.

Wages growth in Australia has returned to its pre-coronavirus pandemic level, but it is still way short of what the Reserve Bank wants to see.

A Reserve Bank warning to borrowers that low interest rates will not last has contributed to extended losses on the share market.

A spike in the unemployment rate and renewed worries over the inflation outlook have put a dent in consumer confidence.

Premier Mark McGowan is refusing to rule out the prospect of lockdowns before the state achieves 90 per cent double-dose vaccination.

Shares had modest improvement to start the week while Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe is preparing to allay investors' fear of inflation.