1. Share­market disclosure laws to be eased permanently

Changes to continuous disclosure laws introduced in response to the pandemic in May last year that made corporations and directors liable for breaches only when they have acted with "knowledge, recklessness or negligence" are set to become permanent. Key legislation that also covers virtual annual general meetings and electronic signatures passed in the Senate last night and is expected to pass the House of Representatives today.

2. James Hardie reports 1,191% surge in net profit

Building products company James Hardie has reported a 35% increase in sales to US$843.3 million and a 1,191% increase in net profit to US$121.4 million during the first quarter. "I am very pleased that this first quarter marked our ninth consecutive quarter of delivering growth above market and strong returns," said CEO Jack Truong.

3. NAB to become second biggest credit card issuer after $1.2 billion Citi deal

National Australia Bank has announced it will acquire Citigroup's consumer business in Australia for $1.2 billion, making it the second largest credit card provider in the country. "The cards and payments sector is rapidly evolving and access to a greater share of payments and transaction data will help drive product and service innovation across our Personal Banking business and deliver market leading customer experiences," said NAB CEO Ross McEwan.

4. Bags of rice act as stand-ins for newborns in Japan

Since many relatives have not been able to visit newborns in Japan due to the pandemic, some parents are instead sending bags of rice that weigh the same as their new baby to family members. The Guardian reported that one of the options available is designed to look like a baby in a blanket with a photo of their face printed on the front.

5. Dow and S&P dip from last week's record highs

On Monday in the US, the Dow Jones dropped 106.66 points or 0.30% to 35,101.85 and the S&P 500 moved down 4.17 points or 0.09% to 4,432.35. The Nasdaq rose by 24.42 points or 0.16% to 14,860.18.