1. Earnings per share growth of 20% forecast as reporting season looms

Citi has forecast 20% growth in market earnings per share in the 2020-21 financial year compared to a 15.8% contraction last financial year, the AFR reported. Dividend growth of 22.3% is also forecast for 2020-21.

2. Australia's vaccination roll out on track despite threats from EU

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said that Australia's COVID vaccines are still on schedule following reports that the European Union will require vaccine makers including AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech to register vaccine exports. Both companies have reported that they will not meet their previous targets due to production issues.

3. Commonwealth Bank named Australia's strongest brand

The Commonwealth Bank has topped Brand Finance Australia's list of strongest brands in the country according to a report by the AFR today, while Woolworths topped the list of companies ranked by brand value. Apple was ranked as the most valuable global brand.

4. Lobster shell design improves concrete strength

Australian researchers from RMIT have used the patterns found in lobster shells to improve the strength of concrete. Reuters reported that concrete was found to be more durable when set in a pattern similar to a lobster shell rather than using a mould.

5. Small dip on Wall Street overnight

The Dow Jones was down 22.96 points or 0.07% on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 closed 5.74 points or 0.15% lower to 3,849.62 and the Nasdaq fell 9.93 points or 0.07% to 13,626.06.