US stocks largely held in place overnight as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say Wednesday about where interest rates are heading.
Profit-taking in raw materials and energy stocks have dragged the bourse lower, ahead of a huge week for central bank meetings in different parts of the globe.
US stocks have closed out the trading week with slight gains on Friday as the latest flurry of economic data kept elevated expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
The local bourse has ended the week slightly higher, buoyed by miners, energy and utilities stocks while fading hopes of interest rate cuts weighed elsewhere.
A copper-infused mining rally has boosted the bourse to a modest gain as development-exposed real estate stocks struggled under a hawkish interest rate outlook.
The Australian dollar has surged to its highest value in three weeks as bets narrow on a 2026 interest rate cut, smothering an early boost for equities.
US stocks closed modestly lower overnight, weighed down by a jump in treasury yields and economic data that showed tariffs remained a drag on the manufacturing sector.
Australia's share market has started the month on the back foot, tracking a turnaround in global risk appetite after a hawkish speech from the Bank of Japan's governor.
IGA supplier Metcash has delivered a $142.2 million first-half net profit, up barely 0.3 per cent from a year ago, after tobacco sales dropped by 35 per cent.
US stocks climbed on Friday (Saturday morning AWST) in thin trading volume during a shortened session after Thanksgiving, driven by gains in retail and a recovery in tech stocks.
Mader Group has claimed the premier accolade at the WA Business Awards, with Cancer Council WA, Pindari WA and Revo Fitness among the suite of companies celebrated.
A legal battle that has erupted over the multimillion-dollar estate of the former prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre might get even bigger.
Major environmental reforms will not push up energy bills and might provide relief by fast-tracking renewables, with the laws set to clear the parliament.
