Public service cuts, China and the US remain in 'close contact' and Boris Johnson leads by 10 points one week before the UK election.

Scott Morrison to announce axe to public service, trade talks still progressing and world leaders caught gossipping about Trump.

Australian school students drop in global rankings, no deadline for trade deal between the US and China, and Wall Street stocks fall again.

Catch up on the latest market and economic news from around the world.

Anticipation for a Santa Claus rally grows, the most properties up for auction this year and China again calls for tariff roll back.

$5 billion in retail sales expected over the next four days and China says it will take "firm counter measures" after Donald Trump signed Hong Kong legislation.

Record highs for the ASX 200 and Wall Street, and Boris Johnson's Conservative party polling well ahead of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour.

Philip Lowe maintains confidence in conventional monetary policy and Westpac out of the running as a lender for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.

Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer steps down, technology to disrupt Australian jobs and new record closes on Wall Street.

Westpac says it will urgently fix its anti-money laundering issues, the Coalition leads in the latest Newspoll and the US still hopes to reach a 'phase one' trade deal by the end of 2019.

Westpac's anti-money laundering breaches "off the charts" and Anthony Albanese's support for the super guarantee increase.

Scott Morrison warns against 'panicked' economic reactions and Trump threatens higher tariffs for China if a trade deal isn't reached.