Lawyers for the banking royal commission have recommended misconduct findings against a number of insurers, some of which may be criminal offences.

Australian shares have closed higher, getting a boost from the materials sector, as worries about international trade tensions ease.

September concludes with updates on consumer confidence, construction activity, household wealth, job vacancies and credit growth.

A Senate inquiry has heard meetings of senior officials involved in saving the Great Barrier Reef did not canvass giving money to a charity.

Complaints to the Aged Care Complaints Commission have soared by 43 per cent in just two years, according to its annual report released on Friday.

Jewellery chain Michael Hill has hired Specialty Fashion's Daniel Bracken as chief executive to replace Phil Taylor, who quit to deal with a health problem.

Qantas and Cathay Pacific have signed off on an agreement giving their customers access to more flights across their interstate and SE Asian routes.

S&P has maintained Australia's sovereign credit rating at 'AAA', and raised its outlook to stable from negative.

Financial giant John Hancock is converting all its life insurance policies to an incentive-based system using activity tracking, a move aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles but which also raises privacy questions.

A retired man has found a massive gold nugget worth at least $110,000 while prospecting in a remote part of WA's northern Goldfields.